Surgeon General of the United States Dr. Vivek Murthy recently announced that loneliness has become an “epidemic” and a new threat to public health in the country. Approximately half of all American adults reported experiencing loneliness, and the health risks associated with loneliness are equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes daily. Murthy calls for action to address this health crisis and emphasizes that face-to-face human interaction cannot be replaced.
On May 3, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released an 81-page report (pdf) documenting the extent of the problem. Lack of social connection and loneliness increase the risk of premature death by 60 percent while also increasing the risk of heart disease by 29 percent, stroke by 32 percent, and dementia by 50 percent among older adults….