If your friends and family are far away, it might break your heart -- literally. Staying in touch could make all the difference.

Add hardship to heartache: Loneliness increases your risk of heart disease. But being alone doesn't necessarily mean being lonely. Stay in touch through e-mails, phone calls and, whenever you can, face-to-face visits. The social connection may keep you healthier by providing a coping mechanism for stress -- a major contributor to aging and disease. More ways to decrease any chance of loneliness include:

• Keeping track of birthdays and anniversaries and sending thoughtful notes by mail
• Joining a weekly reading group
• Researching and taking part in local causes, such as feeding the homeless or cleaning up the environment
• Attending cooking classes
• Joining online groups whose members have similar interests
• Volunteering your skills to local nonprofit groups
• Walking dogs at your local shelter
• Starting a lunchtime walking group with neighbors or coworkers