Business Daily
Date: 04.11.2014
Page 30
Article size: 328 cm2
ColumnCM: 72.88
AVE: 138488.88
Marry when you deem it fit
but single life can be shorter
MARKET TALK
ONIFACE NGAHU
Fit and Living Long, offer some insights on
joint where I was having a drink. this phenomenon. They also quote Winnie
Ornish— a doctor known for reversing heart
After having a drink or two, my the Pooh, 'You can'thave too many friends
friend asked the waiter for the menu to or too much honey."
In the book, they indicate that there is
order chips funga take­away food). After
ordering chicken and fries, the man said: scientific support for inter­personal rela­
of any other factor in medicine other than
intimacy that has greater impact on quality
of life, incidence of illness and premature
Hii ubachelor itaniuwa (being a bachelor tionships. They state that if you have more
friends you are less likely to catch a cold.
will kill me).
This opened a can of worms in terms of This is based on Dr Cohen's findings at
ness and isolation as causes of harmful be­
Recently I met an old friend at a local
whether being a bachelor can actually kill.
During the Standard Chartered Nairobi
Carnegie Mellon University. The findings
also show that in the event that one comes
Marathon, I ran in the company of two wom­ up with a cold, the severity and duration of
en who were discussing their husbands. One symptoms are less if one has lots of social
was unhappy that her husband didnot ap­ contacts. The indication here is that social
prove of her decision to participate in the isolation is bad for your health.
A study among women with breast
marathon, about which she concluded she
cancer found that those who belong to psy­
married a stupid man.
Let's examine what it means to be a chosocial support groups live significantly
bachelor and related challenges.
longer than those without. This is also sup­
ported by other studies that have found so­
cial isolation to increase risk of dying from
Generally, being single is actually enjoy­
all causes by about three times.
able given that one has the freedom to do
In the US, a certain society in Pennsyl­
whateverthey choose. But prolonged sin­
vania was found to be the healthiest in the
glehood can lead to self­destructive behav­
country because of having close social
iours that lower life expectancy, especially
ties where they frequently have dinner
among men. Lack of a good support system
together.
is possibly one of the contributors to the
This discovery can also add credence to
risks of being a bachelor.
Nyumba Kumi initiative that the Health
Support system
Des Cummings and Monica Reed, the au­
thors of Creation Health: Secrets for feeling
diseases— who expressed lack of awareness
death from all causes. Ornish views loneli­
haviours like smoking and overeating.
Ornish concluded that anything pro­
moting love and intimacy is also healing.
University of California studies found that
loneliness can increase risk of heart condi­
tions by three times with emotional support
is enough to reduce the risk.
This also means that it is not just the
quantity of our relationships but quality
also counts with most nurturing happen­
ing when we take time to form the bond.
As Warren Buffet said, "some things take
time, you can't have a baby in one month
by impregnating nine women."
The above evidence suggests that being a
bachelor can actually kill or accelerate your
speed to the grave. The opposite may also
apply; a short message in social media sug­
gests that marriage is a prison as illustrated
in comedy acts by Kansiime. The message
suggests that you should choose your jailer
wisely for best results.
secretary should take note of.
The writer is the marketing director of
Thebookabovealso quotes author Dean
SBO Research.
Ipsos Kenya ­ Acorn House,97 James Gichuru Road ­ Lavington ­ Nairobi ­ Kenya
Business Daily
Date: 04.11.2014
Page 30
Article size: 328 cm2
ColumnCM: 72.88
AVE: 138488.88
Studies showsocial isolation increases riskof dying by about three times, but intimacyand
closeness improve quality of life and lower chances of premature death.
Ipsos Kenya ­ Acorn House,97 James Gichuru Road ­ Lavington ­ Nairobi ­ Kenya