This factor is often underestimated. In the meantime, it has a huge significance

It turns out that our social network can affect our health to the same extent as strenuous exercise. This is the conclusion reached by David Robson, author of a new book on the connections between health and social relationships.

A thriving social network is a good sign

The researcher claims that people from thriving social networks are usually much healthier than those who feel isolated. Our interactions with others are so closely linked to our longevity that the World Health Organization has just launched new Social Relations Commission. It turns out that our friendships can affect everything from the strength of our immune system to our susceptibility to death from heart disease. So, if we want to ensure our longevity – we must put the people around us first.

Contacts come first

There has been a lot of research done on longevity. It’s an exceptionally rewarding subject. The breakthrough came in 1979, when the so-called eighth factor influencing longevity was discovered – social ties. People with the most ties were half as likely to die as those with fewer ties. This finding did not change even after taking into account factors such as social status, economic status, and lifestyle. It became clear that all types of relationships matter, but some are more important than others. The greatest protection was provided by feelings of connection with spouses and close friends. But even casual acquaintances at the store, church and club helped to effectively combat the bad mood. Loneliness made us more susceptible to illness. Nothing good came of it.

Natural protection against disease

In the 1990s, research continued and it was again found that Social support strengthens our immune system and protects against infections.

Social connections will work better for us than swallowing supplements and vitamins, which we do to boost our immunity. There are also signs that people with stronger social connections have a lower risk of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Lonely people, on the other hand, are more likely to develop high blood pressure, and their risk of heart attack increases by 30%.

Researchers have spent years trying to prove that social connections, or the lack thereof, play a greater role in health than alcohol consumption, exercise, body mass index or air pollution. And although they have often encountered criticism, they are persistent and do not stop researching. They constantly find more and more convincing evidence.