Is there a link between loneliness and heart disease?
—
Being alone and feeling lonely are very different things.
The latter, a perceived form of social isolation or rejection, is a form of stress.
When chronic, this stress wreaks havoc on blood vessels and the heart.
Considering that heart disease kills 1 in every 4 men in the United States, could the modern man literally get so lonely he could die?
Heartbreak Hotel
By Mae Boren Axton/Thomas Durden
Well, since my baby left me,
I found a new place to dwell.
It’s down at the end of lonely street
at Heartbreak Hotel.
You make me so lonely baby,
I get so lonely,
I get so lonely I could die.
And although it’s always crowded,
you still can find some room.
Where broken hearted lovers
do cry away their gloom.
You make me so lonely baby,
I get so lonely,
I get so lonely I could die.
Well, the Bell hop’s tears keep flowin’,
and the desk clerk’s dressed in black.
Well they been so long on lonely street
They ain’t ever gonna look back.
You make me so lonely baby,
I get so lonely,
I get so lonely I could die.
Hey now, if your baby leaves you,
and you got a tale to tell.
Just take a walk down lonely street
to Heartbreak Hotel.
Danilo Martins/YouTube
I suppose technically the answer must be “yes, it is possible to die from loneliness”, just as one can die from grief. “Broken Heart Syndrome” is the colloquial term for that, I think. As you said yourself, though, loneliness is a perception, not a condition. As such, developing relationships with others would likely be the most generally helpful behavior to encourage in men, but it would be disingenuous to portray it as the only way to ward off loneliness. You can find examples of ascetics and hermits from myriad cultures, religions, and ethnicities who spend decades in isolation without succumbing… Read more »
Excellent response. Thanks for participating in this conversation and the non-functioning heart fact.
American men die because they are taught to be individuals and not rely on group support or even have mentors. In addition, men only need groups when they need it to help their personal and professional ambitions and then toss them away when they no longer need them. Finally, men are so tied to their workplace, they don’t have time to participate in various community groups or can’t participate because they have to work 2 to 3 jobs which means no time for a social life.
Thank you for sharing your perspecitves on this issue. Food for thought and possibly material for future songs about men.