Heart attack: why eating alone is risky

According to INSERM: “There are on average 80,000 myocardial infarctions per year in France. About 10% of victims die within an hour and the one-year mortality rate is 15%. Thanks to therapeutic progress, the speed of intervention of the Samu (provided you call it quickly) and the increased availability of interventional cardiology units operational 24/7, the 30-day mortality rate has however fell from 10.2% in 1995 to 2.1% in 2015.”

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As for cardiovascular diseases, according to the Foundation for Medical Research: “they include pathologies that affect the heart and all the blood vessels, such as atherosclerosis, heart rhythm disorders, high blood pressure, myocardial infarction, heart failure or strokes.”

A study published in the journal Menopause, the journal of the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) reveals that eating alone may contribute to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in older women.

Eating alone increases the risk of cardiovascular disease

While many studies have already shown that eating habits have an impact on the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, eating alone has never been studied. And yet, the fact of eating alone would have many effects on health, especially on that of women. Thus, the study published in the journal Menopause reveals that eating alone could increase the risk of:

Indeed, when you eat alone, you tend to eat more quickly, which increases your BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure and blood lipid levels. All of these factors increase the risk of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease, especially in women over the age of 65.

Why do women eat alone?

Eating alone is not always a choice. Among women over the age of 65, eating alone is often the cause of social isolation due to the death of their spouse, but also because of the social distancing linked to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Another cause? Having meals delivered to your home can lead to meals being eaten alone at the table. A societal issue that should be addressed by health professionals in order to avoid the increased risk of cardiovascular disease, and in particular the risk of myocardial infarction.

“Given that women live longer than men, finding ways for older women who are socially isolated to engage and create meaningful social connections can not only improve their nutrition but their overall health as well. simultaneously reducing healthcare costs,” said Dr. Stephanie Faubion, Medical Director of NAMS.