Women with small social networks have a higher risk of having a stroke than those with healthy social connections. Heart diseases have often been studied in relation to psychosocial factors such as low socio-economic status, depression, and social relationships, but relatively few studies have looked at these factors with respect to stroke. Researchers in American evaluated 629 women for cardiovascular disease risk factors at baseline that included coronary angiography. The participants completed the Social Network Index, which measured the presence or absence of 12 types of social relationships. A total of 31 non-fatal and one fatal stroke occurred during the follow-up period of 6 years. It was found that socially isolated women experienced strokes at 3 times the rate of those with more social support. Moreover, women who were more socially isolated were significantly older, in poorer health, and more likely to suffer from depression than those with stronger social networks. However, it is still not known how a more isolated lifestyle translates in greater stroke risk for women. The findings reported that women with less social networks have higher levels of stress hormones and higher blood pressure fluctuations. The researchers attributed the findings to the fact that social support decreases one's blood pressure response to stress. Another reason may be that social isolation makes women less compliant with their treatment medications or being regular with exercise. The findings suggest that physicians should know the patient beyond their blood test results to better understand the risk of stroke and to devise better treatments.
Psychosomatic Medicine,
May 2008