by Anna Buss
Snuggle with your cat instead of updating your Facebook profile: The biological implications of social networking (Biologist Vol. 56, February 2009)
These days, social interaction is being replaced more and more by virtual contacts. “The time we spend socialising electronically seperates us from our physical networks,” warns the scientific journal Biologist. And this directly influences our immune system, blood pressure, our risk of getting cancer or suffering depression, and many other things. UCLA School of Medicine found out that people who live in social isolation have, for example, lower immune system activity and a greater risk of inflammatory diseases. All in all, instead of sitting in front of your Facebook profile (which is a risk for your health!), you should go out and have real social contacts. Touch a baby, hug your grandma or cuddle with your cat to improve your immune system and protect the health of your heart.
