A Lonely Heart May Worsen Cold Symptoms

Being lonely may mean more misery when you’re sick. Investigators tracked the mental and physical health of 159 volunteers and found that people who said they had less social support had cold symptoms that were more severe than individuals who felt more socially connected. Researcher Dr. Angie LeRoy advises people to do what you can to get more socially active because “[if] you build those networks—consistently working on them and your relationships—when you do fall ill, it may not feel so bad.” Health Psychology, March 2017