Why you should go to a cookout this 4th of July

The 4th of July is a time when we get together with family and friends, have a cookout, and maybe watch some fireworks. We will likely remember how good (or bad) the ribs were, how hot it was, who got too drunk, and how much fun you had.

But people in the West are becoming more and more socially isolated. They don’t have meaningful connections with others. And if they do, it may just be their spouse. No man is an island, but more and more, we are on peninsulas.

It ain’t good.

Mind and Body

The research linking social isolation to mental and physical health is well known. I’ll list a few of those links here.

The Mind: Social has been linked with depression, anxiety, and high stress. Depending upon how you think of chemical dependency, we can link social isolation to the disease of addiction. Moreover, social isolation has been linked to higher rates of cognitive decline.

The Body: Social isolation increases the risk of inflammation and susceptibility to infections. Social isolation has also been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension, heart disease, and stroke.

Of course, mind and body are linked. Alcoholism or high stress linked to social isolation can lead to poorer health and a stroke. And the weakened immune system can lead to more repeated sicknesses which can make someone depressed.