Heartbroken Heart: MedlinePlus Health News Video
The death of a loved one can lead to more than just heartache.
Many of the words that describe the grief we feel after a death involve the heart: We feel heavy-hearted or brokenhearted or heartsick. A new study finds that during these times of grief, the heart really can be in danger.
Researchers included nearly 2,000 people who'd gone to the hospital with a heart attack. They reported whether someone important to them like a child, spouse, parent, or sibling had died recently. They were 21 times more likely to have a heart attack during the day after a loved one died. The risk fell with each passing day, but they remained more likely to have a heart attack for at least a month.
What could explain these results? According to the researchers, grief can cause depression, anxiety, and anger. And when people are grieving, they tend to sleep less, lose their appetite, and have higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol. All of these issues may put your heart at risk.
During times of grief, it's important to get medical help if you have symptoms of a heart attack, such as:
Many of the words that describe the grief we feel after a death involve the heart: We feel heavy-hearted or brokenhearted or heartsick. A new study finds that during these times of grief, the heart really can be in danger.
Researchers included nearly 2,000 people who'd gone to the hospital with a heart attack. They reported whether someone important to them like a child, spouse, parent, or sibling had died recently. They were 21 times more likely to have a heart attack during the day after a loved one died. The risk fell with each passing day, but they remained more likely to have a heart attack for at least a month.
What could explain these results? According to the researchers, grief can cause depression, anxiety, and anger. And when people are grieving, they tend to sleep less, lose their appetite, and have higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol. All of these issues may put your heart at risk.
During times of grief, it's important to get medical help if you have symptoms of a heart attack, such as:
- Pain or discomfort in the chest
- Discomfort in the neck, jaw, back, or arms
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
- Dizziness
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