Why Loneliness Is A Public Health Issue with Dr. Vivek Murthy

When we think about health, we usually think about diet and exercise. We think about the things we are doing for our physical body to promote wellness. But what about the things we can’t see? Relationships are a big one. For example. committing just ten to fifteen minutes a day to talking to someone we love is a powerful way to keep ourselves happy and connected, especially now during this time of coronavirus quarantine. Today on The Doctor’s Farmacy, I talk with Dr. Vivek Murthy about nurturing greater connection and what it means for our health. Dr. Murthy served as the 19th Surgeon General of the United States between 2014-2017. As the Vice Admiral of the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, he commanded a uniformed service of 6,600 public health officers globally. During his tenure, Dr. Murthy launched the TurnTheTide campaign, catalyzing a movement among health professionals to address the nation’s opioid crisis. He also issued the first Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health, calling for expanded access to prevention and treatment and for recognizing addiction as a chronic illness, not a character flaw. In 2017, Dr. Murthy focused his attention on chronic stress and loneliness as prevalent problems that have profound implications for health, productivity, and happiness. His book Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World was just published on April 28th. *For context, this episode was recorded in February 2020. This episode is sponsored by Simple Mills and Branch Basics. There are definitely not many baking mixes out there I trust. Simple Mills is an exception because they use real-food ingredients. Having a few boxes of Simple Mills mixes on hand is an easy kitchen hack for healthier baking on those days you just need a little extra help. Now until May 29th, 2020 you can get 20% off at simplemills.com using the code DRHYMAN20. Branch Basics makes a biodegradable, non-GMO, fragrance-free, multi-purpose concentrate that can clean everything in your house safely. You can honestly use it for anything - in the kitchen or bathroom or even for laundry or cleaning your wood floors. Right now Branch Basics is offering 15% off their Starter Kit, just go to branchbasics.com and use the code HYMAN15 at checkout. Here are more of the details from our interview: How Dr. Murthy came to focus on loneliness (9:04) The science behind loneliness and its impact on our health (14:24) Why we don’t always see the loneliness that exists around us (19:22) Loneliness and its connection to addiction (20:45) Building connection through love and kindness (29:51) Steps we can take in our individual lives to combat loneliness and build a connected life (37:36) Shifting culture to a society that focuses on people over reputation, power, and wealth (42:27) Our connection to other people is built on having a strong connection to ourselves (44:01) Why we often struggle with loneliness in the workplace (45:22) Getting over the obstacles that keep us from investing in connection in our own lives (48:54) Learn more about Dr. Murthy at www.vivekmurthy.com and get a copy of his book, “Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World” at https://www.vivekmurthy.com/together-book Follow Dr. Murthy on Facebook @drvivekmurthy, on Instagram @drvivekmurthy, and on Twitter @vivek_murthy