Friendly social network helps reduce heart attack risk

Washington: A new study has demonstrated that residing with neighbors that help in difficult times and a friendly local community can help in controlling heart attack risk.

The study showed that extending one's social network is also linked to lower cardiovascular disease risk.

Analysis of the data showed that each standard deviation increased in perceived neighborhood social cohesion was associated with a 22percent reduced risk of a heart attack.

The researchers felt that perceived neighborhood social cohesion could be a type of social support that was available in the neighborhood social environment outside the realm of family and friends.