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Loneliness can cause depression, heart disease and obesity, reports the electronic edition of the "Daily Mail", quoted by bTA. 

The National Health Service in Great Britain recommends that people who feel lonely meet more actively with their family and friends. 

Everyone feels lonely from time to time, but if it becomes chronic it can cause chronic diseases that will worsen the general health situation in society.

Problems such as depression, anxiety and stress caused by loneliness have been known for decades.

Now, however, doctors are discovering that loneliness can even age a person - faster than smoking. 

Daily habits that shorten our lives

A joint study by Stanford University and the University of Hong Kong found that feelings of loneliness affect the biological clock more strongly than cigarettes do. 

The researchers clarify that chronic loneliness is not equivalent to temporary conditions such as having no friends or few social contacts.

Many people live happily alone.

Feelings of isolation can be present even when a person has a relationship or a large family.

This can reduce physical activity, which in turn causes problems such as insomnia, pain, high stress levels.

Ultimately, loneliness triggers problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease, immune collapse, cognitive decline and dementia.

High levels of the hormone cortisol have a direct impact on the brain's ability to remember, scientists say.

loneliness