Staying Social May Control Hypertension

Lonely people are at higher risk of developing high blood pressure in later life, according to a study published in the March issue of Psychology and Aging. Researchers found that chronic feelings of loneliness push up blood pressure (BP) over time. Such a rise can impact cardiovascular health, says psychiatrist Leo Pozuelo, MD, associate director of Cleveland Clinics Bakken Heart-Brain Institute. "High BP is a key contributor to heart disease," he says.