Show 1368: Why Overcoming Loneliness Is Crucial for Your Health (Archive)

Social isolation is a serious risk factor for chronic diseases. As a result, overcoming loneliness is an essential step toward better health.   In this week's interview, Dr. Robert Waldinger of Harvard University explains why overcoming loneliness is essential for our health. His research, summarized in The Good Life, shows that close relationships are crucial for a satisfying life. In addition, the Surgeon General has issued a comprehensive report on the epidemic of loneliness and its effects on physical as well as mental health. How do we reach out to others and vanquish their loneliness as well as ours?