Dr. Alicia Serrano, cardiologist at the Cardiology Unit of Vithas Valencia 9 de Octubre Hospital, integrated into the Vithas Cardiovascular Institute, highlighted that these elements, increasingly present in modern life, contribute to a considerable increase in heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiac pathologies.
“"We are seeing a progressive increase in patients whose hearts are not only affected by hypertension or diabetes, but also by their emotional and social context. Loneliness, in particular, has become a risk factor as relevant as traditional clinical factors."
An official statement from the American Heart Association indicates that loneliness and social isolation increase the risk of heart attack or stroke by approximately 30%. This data is reinforced by the World Health Organization (WHO), which warns that social disconnection is implicated in over 871,000 annual global deaths, associated with heart disease, cerebrovascular accidents, and other serious illnesses.
Dr. Serrano explains that loneliness physiologically affects the cardiovascular system, as a lack of social interaction increases basal inflammation in the body, raises blood pressure, and enhances the effects of chronic stress. All these mechanisms, combined, explain why loneliness so clearly increases the risk of heart attack or stroke.
In addition to loneliness, there is a sustained increase in emotional and work-related stress. Continuous activation of the body's alert system causes hypertension, heart rhythm disturbances, and progressive deterioration of heart function. The current lifestyle, with long working hours, difficulty balancing work and personal life, work pressure, and insufficient real rest time, is creating fertile ground for the onset of cardiometabolic disease, filling clinics with young people experiencing symptoms derived from sustained stress.
Sedentary lifestyles and pollution also play a crucial role. Lack of physical activity, an unbalanced diet, and increased screen time, combined with loneliness, promote obesity, diabetes, and hypertension—pathologies that form the basis of many cardiovascular diseases diagnosed today. Furthermore, environmental pollution is responsible for up to 25% of deaths from ischemic heart disease, as prolonged exposure to pollutant particles can trigger systemic inflammation, increase blood viscosity, and promote clot formation.
To reduce this risk, the cardiology team suggests promoting regular social contact with family and friends, managing stress through relaxation techniques or professional support, and maintaining continuous physical activity of at least 150 minutes per week along with a balanced diet.
