Heart doctor says unexpected lifestyle factor can be ‘just as dangerous as smoking’

A heart doctor has suggested that an innocent lifestyle habit could potentially be as bad for your ticker as smoking.

As our understanding of the human body has grown, there are more and more things we've identified that are pretty bad for us. When it comes to protecting our anatomy and organs, the brain and the heart are probably the two things we want to keep the healthiest, and that might mean making some sacrifices.

Dry January always shines the light on alcohol and the pretty awful impact that can have on our physical and mental health, while things like smoking and eating processed meat have also been identified as significant causes of illness over the years.

While smoking has the most impact to our lungs, it can also do some real damage to our heart, with research suggesting that people who smoke are at an escalated risk of increased heart rate, blood pressure and a greater risk of developing clogged arteries.

Even those that treat their body as a temple, perhaps more so in fact, are vulnerable to one health condition which is affecting millions of people across the world. In the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, loneliness has been at an all-time high, as people lose contact with those they once held close and struggle to make new connections in an increasingly online society.

Loneliness is increasingly common (Getty Stock)

Dr Jeremy London, a board certified cardiothoracic surgeon, regularly gives advice about what's good and bad for the heart on his popular social media pages, and he reckons that loneliness could cause just as many issues as something like smoking.

In a recent YouTube short, the doctor ranked loneliness as an 8/10 for how bad it is for the heart, saying: "We're social creatures and the data has clearly shown that chronic loneliness can be as dangerous as cigarette smoking or even obesity. So call a friend, stay connected, it's super important."

The doctor isn't alone in this thinking, as it's long been suggested that feeling lonely can have serious repercussions on both our physical and mental health.

Dr. Crystal Wiley Cené said: "Over four decades of research has clearly demonstrated that social isolation and loneliness are both associated with adverse health outcomes.

"There is strong evidence linking social isolation and loneliness with increased risk of worse heart and brain health in general."

A report from 2022 found that social isolation and loneliness are most strongly linked to heart disease, with a 29% per cent increased risk for heart attack and/or death from heart disease.

There is also the connection between social isolation and other lifestyle choices, such as not eating enough fruit and vegetables or exercise, which obviously only increases the risk of heart problems further.