Dying from a broken heart
It seems the emotional pain of losing a loved one can, literally, ‘break a person’s heart’. A new study by American scientists has confirmed a person’s heart attack risk is 21 times higher than normal the day after a loved one passes away. Although the risk of an attack declines over time, it reportedly remains elevated within the first month of a loved one’s death.
It seems the emotional pain of losing a loved one can, literally, ‘break a person’s heart’.
A new study by American scientists has confirmed a person’s heart attack risk is 21 times higher than normal the day after a loved one passes away.
Although the risk of an attack declines over time, it reportedly remains elevated within the first month of a loved one’s death. During the first week, the risk was reportedly six times higher than normal.
The study looked at nearly 2,000 people hospitalised for heart attacks over a five-year period and were controlled for variables like health and history of disease.
Lead author of the paper, Dr Elizabeth Mostofsky says chest pains in the days after a loved one’s death should not be ignored; pointing out bereavement can also provoke depression, anger and anxiety, all of which can elevate the heart rate and blood pressure, while increasing blood clotting.
Other studies have uncovered greater heart and mortality risks in the weeks and months after the loss of a spouse.
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