Loneliness has been linked to higher mortality rates for some time now. A study done in the late 70s found that over a 9 year study period individuals with the least number of social ties died at a rate twice that of those with the most social ties. Now a new study conducted by Canadian researchers found that friends also improve heart health. The study looked at college kids who had just arrived at university and measured their heart rates and number of new friends acquired in the following five months. Researchers discovered that students who had more friends had faster heart rates, while those with fewer friends had slower heart rates. Over time, a slower heart rate can lead to heart problems and even death. So don’t be a hermit, go make some friends, it’s good for your health.