Astonishingly, over 735,000 Americans have a heart attack every year.  With heart disease being the #1 killer in western countries, including the United States, with over 17 million people dying every year due to heart disease worldwide.  Most heart attacks are preventable and most risk factors for cardiovascular disease are preventable.

Even more astonishing is that loneliness is associated with a 29% increased risk of having a heart attack and a 32% increased risk of having a cerebral vascular accident (CVA), also known as a stroke, according to a review of studies published online by the journal Heart (April 18, 2016).

This research validates the importance of friendship in living a long and meaningful life.  Many argue that a sense of belonging and purpose combined with a strong social support system will have more influence on the aging process than more traditionally thought of factors such as diet, weight control, and exercise.  Continue Reading