The country crooner Hank Williams sang, “I’m so lonesome, I could cry.” Now, research shows loneliness can literally cause people to… die. From the American Heart Association on April 15:
Feeling lonely was associated with increased risk of aortic valve stenosis and mitral valve regurgitation…which can lead to heart failure, reduced quality of life and the need for valve replacement surgery.
Heart valve disease diagnosed in people who reported ‘feeling lonely’ may reflect a biological vulnerability related to an individual’s feelings and emotional well-being, and also a growing societal burden.
Our February 2026 Socionomist cover story examines America’s growing loneliness epidemic from top to bottom, revealing why we’re experiencing a crisis of isolation and what the only effective cure is.
Read that story today, as part of the complete February Socionomist – for just $30.