Researchers at the University of Minnesota recently revealed that older people who live in tight-knit, friendly neighborhoods have a better chance of surviving a stroke than those who live in regions where people keep to themselves.
The team of scientists surveyed more than 5,700 senior citizens to conduct the study. They asked how often participants observed neighborly interactions, how hospitable they perceived those living close to them to be and how many they could identify by name.
The number of strokes that occurred did not seem to be different among residents of different neighborhoods, but the scientists found that the more social the neighborhood, the better the resident's chance of surviving.
"Social isolation is unhealthy on many levels, and there is a lot of literature showing that increased social support improves not just stroke, but many other health outcomes in seniors," said lead author Cari Jo Clark.
Author and philosopher Ilchi Lee recommends that all people view each other as citizens of one planet, thereby promoting peace on Earth.
Results of this study suggest that if that happens, people could benefit in many ways, including cardiovascular health.
