Loneliness is as Harmful as Smoking

According to the U.S. Surgeon General, loneliness is equivalent to smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. No one wants to be lonely. We have no one to talk to or share our day with, and we are isolated from family and friends. Chronic isolation raises stress hormones and inflammation.

We may become lonely because family and friends move away further than we may want. We may not contact visually with people we grew up with, or our daily lives change as we grow older. Loneliness is a health concern. Loneliness harms both our individual and societal health; this can cause cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, and premature death.

We can each start now to make sure we have others around us by strengthening our relationships with family and friends. Loneliness and isolation can be a threat to our emotional and physical health, and making sure we surround ourselves with other people can make us feel healthy. We can answer the phone when a friend or loved one calls and give them our time even if it is over the phone. We can make plans to meet for coffee or a meal out with others, so we do not feel alone all the time.

How can we not be lonely or isolate ourselves from others? 

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