🧠 The Power of Social Contact

Nikhil Sharma

27d • Stroke Prevention Tips

Why staying connected is crucial

Stroke prevention isn"t just about the medical stuff — blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose.

One of the biggest protective factors is something far more human:

🤝 Staying socially connected.

Strong social ties reduce stroke risk through several powerful pathways:

Lower cortisol & allostatic load — loneliness is biologically stressful. Regular connection buffers stress hormones and supports vascular health.

Better habits — people with strong social networks move more, drink less, and make healthier choices.

Early warning — friends and family notice subtle changes in your speech, balance, or cognition that you might miss.

Sharper brain, longer life — social interaction protects against cognitive decline and dementia, which often overlap with the same risk factors for stroke.

The evidence?

2 Large population studies have shown that loneliness and social isolation increase stroke risk by 25–30%, and raise all-cause mortality by a similar amount.

Connection isn’t “nice to have.” It’s a real physiological need.

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How to build your stroke-proof social routine

Pick ONE of the following this week:

Call or meet a friend you haven’t seen in a while.

Plan a weekly ritual — Sunday walk, Friday coffee, mid-week gym session with someone.

Join a group (local club, sports team, community group, or our Stroke-Proof monthly check-in).

Strengthen the micro-moments — ask how someone’s day is going, send a voice note, share an encouraging message.

Small, consistent contact creates benefits.

Share below what you’re doing, and let’s keep each other stroke-proof. 💬🧠

Here's the links for the 2 research studies:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27091846/