By David Blyweiss, M.D., Advanced Natural Wellness
March 23, 2022
As we enter our third year living with COVID, some people are still afraid to leave their homes.
But even before the virus, social isolation was a growing epidemic. Rates of loneliness doubled between the 1980s and 2017. And a Harvard survey conducted in October of 2021 showed one in three people reported feeling lonely “frequently” or “almost all the time or “all the time.”
The thing is, loneliness doesn’t cause people to isolate themselves. But isolation definitely leads to loneliness. And that’s not a good thing.
Social isolation, in and of itself, can result in some serious health consequences. In fact, the health effects are comparable to those associated with obesity and cigarette smoking.
It’s linked to a higher risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. Isolation and loneliness also increase your chances of dementia and frailty. It messes with your hormones and immune system, opening you up to infection. It’s associated with mood changes, sleep disruptions and depression.
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In other words, social isolation is a health risk all of its own. And it’s a shame, because people who are self-isolating out of fear of COVID are often the ones who already have existing health concerns, or see themselves as vulnerable to the virus. But hiding at home just makes them less healthy.
The Choice is in Your Hands
People are making the choice not to go out. They don’t know what else to do. There just hasn’t been enough clear-cut information that everyone agrees on.
The result is that, with the recent removal of mask mandates, some people are more afraid than ever to leave their homes. Especially those who are elderly, have pre-existing health conditions or are immunocompromised.
They have been locked up for two years, and now they’ve lost the little bit of protection they thought they had.
But you absolutely must re-enter society. It doesn’t have to be dangerous.
For example, I have two neighbors that I see three times a day. They walk up the street together at eight o’clock in the morning, one o’clock in the afternoon and 5:30 at night. They just go out and take a walk together. They can walk six feet apart and still talk to each other. We always stop and say hello.
The thing is, these two are staying physically and socially active, without risking their health. And it’s so easy to do.
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Get Out, Get Active and Get Social – Safely
Just because mask mandates have been lifted, it doesn’t mean you can’t wear one. After all, COVID isn’t going away.
It makes good sense to invest in one that actually works. So spend your money on a great fitting N95 mask. The better it fits, the better it will protect against droplets from other people.
Personally, that’s what I wear. I also take four to five sprays of bio-active silver hydrosol to boost my immune system before I go out in public. You can take bio-active silver hydrosol as a vertical spray up your nose before leaving home, or 1 teaspoon three times a day under your tongue and hold for a minute.
To further boost your immunity, eat a healthy rainbow diet filled with all the colors of the rainbow. Take your vitamins, minerals and omega-3s. Sleep well.
As long as you wear your mask and continue to practice social distancing, there isn’t any reason you can’t go out for a walk every day with a friend or neighbor. Join an outdoor fitness class. Sign up for water aerobics or aquatic exercises classes.
Just get out, get active and get socializing again before you wither away!
Sources:
Murphy V. Connecting at Work. Harvard Business Review. Sept 2017.
Weissbourd R, Batanova M, Lovison V, Torres E. Loneliness in America. How the Pandemic Has Deepened an Epidemic of Loneliness and What We Can Do About It. Harvard’s Making Caring Common Project. 2021.
Valtorta NK, Kanaan M, Gilbody S, Ronzi S, Hanratty B. Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for coronary heart disease and stroke: systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal observational studies. Heart. 2016 Jul 1;102(13):1009-16.
Hawkley LC, Thisted RA, Masi CM, Cacioppo JT. Loneliness predicts increased blood pressure: 5-year cross-lagged analyses in middle-aged and older adults. Psychol Aging. 2010 Mar;25(1):132-41.
Gale CR, Westbury L, Cooper C. Social isolation and loneliness as risk factors for the progression of frailty: the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Age Ageing. 2018 May 1;47(3):392-397.
Carlson MC, Gow AJ, Litwin H, Kim ES, Kondo K, Qiu C, Roos V. The Brain and Social Connectedness: GCBH Recommendations on Social Engagement and Brain Health. 2017. Global Council on Brain Health.
Cacioppo JT, Cacioppo S. Older adults reporting social isolation or loneliness show poorer cognitive function 4 years later. Evid Based Nurs. 2014 Apr;17(2):59-60.
Lenard W. Kaye. Relational Fragility and the Isolational Trajectory in the Latter Stages of Life. Journal of Aging Life Care. 2018. 28(1).
Andrejko KL, Pry JM, Myers JF, et al. Effectiveness of Face Mask or Respirator Use in Indoor Public Settings for Prevention of SARS-CoV-2 Infection — California, February–December 2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2022;71:212–216.
