6 Pillars to a Warm Heart The Power of Connection to Lasting Bonds

The 6 pillars of lifestyle medicine are diet and nutrition, exercise, quality sleep, avoidance of harmful substances, stress management, and the last pillar is social relationships.(Connectedness) WhichIt is well known thatIt directly affects emotional well-being. However, people often overlook the impact on physical health. Although social relationships can affect health care behaviors, such as increased physical activity. Alcohol consumption decreases and sleep quality improves.

Social RelationshipsIt consists of 3 factors:

1. Structure (Structure) - It reflects the basic human need to communicate with a variety of people in everyday life, such as the size of social networks (Network size)Marital status (single or married)
2. Role (Function) – Reflecting access to people who can be trusted and relied on. To support their own goals and needs. In terms of awareness of available assistance (Perceived support) and the actual help received (Received support)
3. Quality (Quality) – Reflects the positive nature of relationships and interactions with each other. For example, relationship satisfaction or relationship pressure.

Assessment of social relationships that affect health conditions It takes into account not only the number of individuals in the relationship, but also the trust and quality of the relationship.

The link between social relationships and health conditions can be made in both behavioral and biological aspects. For example, people who live in solitude often engage in inappropriate health behaviors, such as eating unhealthy foods. Drinking large amounts of alcohol and being inactive in physical activity In addition, the stress of isolation stimulates inflammation in the body, which can negatively affect health conditions.

Social Connections, Relationships and Chronic Disease Risk

Social Linkages It is associated with the risk of many chronic diseases. One example study found that factors of good social relationships, both in terms of structure, (Marriage/Having a Life Partner Living with Others Participating in community activities or meeting family members and friends) Role(Having a trusted person to consult) And quality (not feeling alone) reduces the risk of developing mild memory impairment.(Mild cognitive impairment) Dementia (Dementia) It is also associated with a lower mortality rate.

Social relationships are not only important for disease prevention. They are also important for patients with cardiovascular diseases. Patients who live in isolation often have poor treatment outcomes and have a higher mortality rate than those with good social relationships.28%

In a society that is harmonious and generous among neighbors. It has been found to be associated with a reduction in the risk of developing type 1 diabetes.2 Down to22% Research suggests that diabetics who receive social support from their peers are able to control their blood sugar levels to a certain level better than the control group. have a better understanding of the disease. follow the doctor's treatment plan well and have less stress.

For Cancer Survivors Having good rapport is critical to motivation to live. A study in ovarian cancer patients found that people who were close to people and received good social support had higher levels of inflammatory substances.IL-6Inflammatory substancesIL-6 Higher is associated with a worse course of the disease.

Another study in men found that those who lived alone or with only one person in their home were at greater risk of dying from cancer than those who lived in houses with at least three people. When the number of people living in the house increased from 2 to 3 people, the death rate from cancer was reduced by up to half.

Start building a bond with health and heart.

• Volunteer workIt is an activity that promotes physical and mental health. It can be done either in the community, through online channels, or groups of people with similar interests.
• Participate in religious activitiesOr groups that share the same spiritual beliefs.
• Adopt animals from sheltersOr participate in activities with animal lovers.
• Participate in social and cultural activities.For example, sporting events, music performances, art exhibitions, or parades.
• Learn new thingsBy registering for courses or training on topics of interest.

Strengthen bonds Increase health power

1. Pay attention to the people around you.Try to connect more with the people you encounter each week.
2. OptimismPassing on positive energy to each other when there is an opportunity.
3. Spend quality time together.Share new experiences together
4. Stay by your side and offer helpWhen someone needs encouragement or help,
5. Open-minded and flexibleSupport and appreciate the good things in the lives of others.

Social RelationshipsIt affects physical, mental, and emotional health. Taking care of relationships between people is no less important than eating the right food. Regular exercise Quality sleep Avoiding harmful substances and managing stress to meet the 6 pillars of lifestyle medicine because good social relationships are an important support that helps promote health care to run in its entirety. Balanced and sustainable

By Medical Team BDMS Wellness Clinic Institute

and the Association of Doctors to Restore Health and Promote Obesity Education. Krung Ung Thep (BARSO)

Reference List

1. Proctor AS, Barth A, Holt-Lunstad J. A healthy lifestyle is a social lifestyle: The vital link between social connection and health outcomes. Lifestyle Medicine. 2023;4(4):e91.
2. Mahalingam G, Samtani S, Lam BCP, Lipnicki DM, Lima-Costa MF, Blay SL, et al. Social connections and risk of incident mild cognitive impairment, dementia, and mortality in 13 longitudinal cohort studies of ageing. Alzheimer's & Dementia. 2023;19(11):5114-28.
3. Martino J, Pegg J, Frates EP. The Connection Prescription: Using the Power of Social Interactions and the Deep Desire for Connectedness to Empower Health and Wellness. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2017;11(6):466-75.
4. American College of Lifestyle Medicine. Lifestyle Social Connections [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2025 Nov 10]. Available from: https://assets.ctfassets.net/pxcfulgsd9e2/z7yjs15qgahGN76IRArkE/6d52352367adff7c50e40a142072ceb2/American_College_of_Lifestyle_Medicine_Lifestyle_Social_Connections.pdf