Clipping Board » Life Tips ─ Life is also a subject of study...
Update Date: 2010/09/15 00:06 (Central News Agency, Taipei, 14th)
New research suggests that the secret to a long and healthy life may lie in having a strong social network. A U.S. study found that people with many friends live an average of 3.7 years longer than those who are socially isolated.
According to the UK's *Daily Mail*, during the study period, individuals with normal social relationships had a 50% lower mortality rate compared to those with less social support. Normal social relationships refer to having friends, family, and regular participation in community activities.
Scientists discovered that, in terms of mortality, the impact of a good social network is equivalent to quitting smoking. Those with less social support face a mortality risk similar to that of heavy drinkers.
Researchers from Brigham Young University and the University of North Carolina analyzed data from 300,000 people over eight years.
Co-author of the study, Timothy B. Smith, stated that the findings showed people with strong social relationships lived an average of 3.7 years longer than those with weaker social ties.
Dr. Antonio Gomez, a clinical assistant professor of pulmonary and critical care medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, said doctors should take note of this research, but it also has limitations.
He told the *Los Angeles Times*, "We can’t broadly claim that social relationships improve survival—at least, not yet."
He added that the study did not explain how social interactions enhance health.
Dr. Teresa Ellen Seeman, a professor of medicine at the UCLA School of Public Health, said, "As humans, we have numerous regulatory systems, such as blood pressure, metabolism, and stress hormones."
"There is evidence that these systems are all influenced by social relationships. People with more positive social relationships and social support tend to have lower blood pressure and cholesterol, better glucose metabolism, and reduced stress hormone levels." (Translator: Central News Agency, Chang Hsiao-wen) 990914
Source: http://tw. news. yahoo. com/ article/ url/ d/ a/ 100915/ 5/ 2d21d. html
Study: More Friends, 3.7 More Years
New research suggests that the secret to a long and healthy life may lie in having a strong social network. A U.S. study found that people with many friends live an average of 3.7 years longer than those who are socially isolated.
According to the UK's *Daily Mail*, during the study period, individuals with normal social relationships had a 50% lower mortality rate compared to those with less social support. Normal social relationships refer to having friends, family, and regular participation in community activities.
Scientists discovered that, in terms of mortality, the impact of a good social network is equivalent to quitting smoking. Those with less social support face a mortality risk similar to that of heavy drinkers.
Researchers from Brigham Young University and the University of North Carolina analyzed data from 300,000 people over eight years.
Co-author of the study, Timothy B. Smith, stated that the findings showed people with strong social relationships lived an average of 3.7 years longer than those with weaker social ties.
Dr. Antonio Gomez, a clinical assistant professor of pulmonary and critical care medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, said doctors should take note of this research, but it also has limitations.
He told the *Los Angeles Times*, "We can’t broadly claim that social relationships improve survival—at least, not yet."
He added that the study did not explain how social interactions enhance health.
Dr. Teresa Ellen Seeman, a professor of medicine at the UCLA School of Public Health, said, "As humans, we have numerous regulatory systems, such as blood pressure, metabolism, and stress hormones."
"There is evidence that these systems are all influenced by social relationships. People with more positive social relationships and social support tend to have lower blood pressure and cholesterol, better glucose metabolism, and reduced stress hormone levels." (Translator: Central News Agency, Chang Hsiao-wen) 990914
Source: http://tw. news. yahoo. com/ article/ url/ d/ a/ 100915/ 5/ 2d21d. html