Body

ScienceDaily (May 24, 2002) — Lonely people have a greater risk of heart disease, possibly due to differences in how their cardiovascular system reacts in times of stress rather than because of unhealthy behaviors, according to a new study published in the May/June issue of Psychosomatic Medicine. The study shows that when performing mentally and emotionally stressful tasks, lonely college students had increased blood pressure due to increased resistance to blood flow that may be harmful in the long run. In contrast, non-lonely students had increased blood pressure from increased cardiac output, a more normal response to stress.