Loneliness, Lifestyles and Lockdowns: Effects on Health

Abstract

Mother Teresa said: “the greatest disease in the West today is not TB or leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for. We can cure physical diseases with medicine, but the only cure for loneliness, despair, and hopelessness is love...” Loneliness is a global phenomenon. Although more prevalent in the elderly, it is seen in all age groups. Contrary to logic, social media appears to have increased loneliness. Loneliness has several detrimental effects on human health. It is associated with a wide array of chronic diseases, contributing to their development, and often worsening their prognosis. Although there are several mechanisms involved in this harmful association, lower adherence to five healthy lifestyles is a major factor. These lifestyles include not smoking, not drinking alcohol in excess, maintaining adequate body weight, prudent diet, and regular physical activity. Unfortunately, unhealthy lifestyles have been aggravated by the recent COVID-19 pandemic. These relationships are reviewed in this manuscript.