Active Social Life Can Reduce Heart Disease Risk? This is What Experts Say

JAKARTA - Heart health is not only influenced by the food consumed, exercise, and rest time. Heart health is also related to a person's social life.

Basically, humans are social beings, whose meaningful relationships with friends, family, and community members can affect emotional and physical health. Staying socially connected can support better heart health.

When a person maintains strong relationships and feels supported by others, their body tends to be better able to cope with stress. Social interaction triggers the release of hormones that cause feelings of pleasure, such as oxytocin and serotonin.

These two hormones will help reduce cortisol, the body's main stress hormone. With stress well controlled, it can help keep heart health stable.

On the other hand, research shows that loneliness and social isolation can increase the risk of heart disease and other health problems. This is because social isolation can increase chronic stress, which can cause high blood pressure, increase heart rate, and trigger inflammation in blood vessels.

"Over time, these changes can contribute to atherosclerosis, a condition in which arteries become hardened and narrowed, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke," said Senior Consultant - Cardiology at Sahyadri Specialty Hospital, Dr. Priya Palimkar, quoted from Healthshots, on Monday, March 9, 2026.

Therefore, it is very important for everyone to maintain a good social life for heart health. When social relationships are good, it will affect a person's behavior.

They will tend to be physically active, to follow a healthy and balanced diet. Having a supportive friend or family member often gives a sense of responsibility.

For example, friends can motivate someone to exercise regularly, while family members can encourage healthier eating habits. Over time, these small behavioral changes can significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

"Emotional support helps regulate the stress response in the body. When a person feels supported, their blood pressure and heart rate tend to return to normal levels after experiencing a stressful event," he said.

It's also worth remembering that maintaining an active social life doesn't mean having to always attend big meetings or being surrounded by dozens of people. In fact, the quality of relationships is much more important than quantity.

Some activities that can be done are contacting friends or close relatives, walking with the closest people, volunteering, participating in religious activities, or joining groups that suit your hobbies. These activities make you interact, which can give you a sense of belonging and national security.