Heart Health
Advice for the lonely hearts club
Loneliness and social isolation can leave you more vulnerable to cardiovascular disease. Making the effort to foster friendships, both new and old, can help.
- Reviewed by Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
That old Hank Williams song, "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry," evokes the wistful sadness of loneliness that everyone feels at times. But this emotion is far more prevalent — and potentially detrimental to heart health — than most people recognize.
Earlier this year, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released an 82-page advisory about the country's epidemic of loneliness, which he called an underappreciated health crisis. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, about half of adults reported feeling lonely. Being lonely or socially isolated has been linked to a 29% higher risk of heart disease and a 32% higher risk of stroke. In terms of mortality, the repercussions are similar to smoking up to 15 cigarettes per day—and are even greater than the risks associated with obesity and physical inactivity, according to the report.
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About the Author
Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter
About the Reviewer
Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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