People are more connected than ever, so why is loneliness literally killing us? Glenn Beck gives an uncomfortable answer

In this digital age we live in, there's never been more ways to connect with people thanks to the internet — and yet loneliness and social isolation are so extreme, they were declared an epidemic by the last surgeon general.

The cost of extreme loneliness and isolation is steeper than most realize. In his advisory, Vivek Murthy warned: "Loneliness and social isolation increase the risk for premature death by 26% and 29% respectively. More broadly, lacking social connection can increase the risk for premature death as much as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. In addition, poor or insufficient social connection is associated with increased risk of disease, including a 29% increased risk of heart disease and a 32% increased risk of stroke. Furthermore, it is associated with increased risk for anxiety, depression, and dementia."