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Report: Loneliness in US as deadly as smoking half a pack of cigarettes a day

2023-05-02 18:27:33, Shëndeti CNA

Widespread loneliness in the United States poses as deadly a health risk as smoking half a pack of cigarettes a day, costing the health industry billions of dollars a year.

The warning was made by the White House Adviser on Public Health, in a recently published report.

About half of US adults say they have experienced loneliness. We now know that loneliness is a common feeling that many people experience. It is like hunger or thirst. It is a feeling that the body conveys to us when something is missing that we need for survival ," said Dr. Vivek Murthy for the Associated Press news agency.

His report aims to raise awareness about loneliness, but does not unlock federal funding or programs specifically to combat the problem.

The crisis worsened during the coronavirus pandemic, which forced schools and workplaces to close, forcing millions of Americans to isolate themselves at home away from relatives or friends.

" People withdrew from their friend groups during the coronavirus pandemic and reduced the time they spent with those friends ," the report said. Americans spent about 20 minutes a day with friends in 2020, up from 60 minutes a day nearly two decades ago.

According to the report, the most affected are young people aged 15 to 24 years. This age group reported a 70% drop in time spent with friends over the same period.

Loneliness increases the risk of premature death by nearly 30%, and the report found that those who had the least social connections also had a greater risk of stroke and heart disease. Isolation also increases the likelihood that a person will experience depression or anxiety.

Another factor that has influenced the increase in loneliness is technology. The report found that people who used social media for two hours or more a day were twice as likely to report feeling socially isolated than those who spent less than 30 minutes a day on such apps.

The White House Public Health Adviser is urging tech companies to use safeguards for children, especially around their behavior on social media.

Dr. Vivek Murthy also calls on workplaces, schools, technology companies, organizations and parents to make changes that will increase contact with friends and family.

He advises people to join community groups and not use phones when spending time with friends; employers to think carefully about their remote work policies and health systems to provide training for doctors to recognize the health risks of loneliness./ VOA