Why does loneliness cause physical ailments?

Question

Recently I came across this article that spending extended periods of time alone is equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. If this is true, how does it really work? What are the physiological implications of loneliness that causes such detrimental effects not only to the mind, but also the body?

Source: https://extension.unh.edu/blog/2022/05/prolonged-social-isolation-loneliness-are-equivalent-smoking-15-cigarettes-day#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20National%20Institute,as%20many%20as%2015%20years.

In: 5

Answer 1

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