Solitude increases risk of death from stroke 

Living alone and living with fewer people increases the risk of dying of stroke and stroke, a study in Britain reports Tuesday.

The study collected 479,000 people who answered a questionnaire asking if they were "socially isolated" or lonely. 

"Social isolation and loneliness are associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction and stroke," said Finnish researchers in the medical journal Heart. 

"Social isolation appears to be a risk factor for independent mortality following a heart attack or stroke," the researchers add. 

The originality of the study resided in isolating this factor from others. In fact, living only adds to other risks to the heart, such as unhealthy lifestyle (smoking, unbalanced eating, lack of physical activity and so on), poor mental health and poverty. 

Excluding other risks, the study concluded that loneliness increases by 32% the risk of death from stroke or stroke.