After the death of a loved one, the risk of having a heart attack increases.The greatest danger comes the day after the loss, when the risk of heart attack increases 21 times. During the first week, the chances are six times higher than in normal situations. They are conclusions of a work published in the magazineCirculation: Journal of the American Heart Associationand echoed by the SINC Agency.
“Health professionals, caregivers and people who grieve are most at risk in the days and weeks after death,” says Murray Mittleman, co-author of the study and medical researcher at Harvard University (USA). The study also shows that, in the long term, spouses affected by loss have a higher risk of dying from heart disease or stroke. “During these situations of extreme pain and distress, you should take care of yourself and seek medical attention to monitor symptoms associated with a heart attack,” Mittleman advises.
When grieving begins, people often sleep poorly, lose appetite, andincrease higher cortisol levels, a hormone that is released when under stress. The psychological stress caused by intense suffering canincrease heart rate, blood pressure, and blood clotting. “Friends and relatives of those affected by the death of a third party must provide immediate support to help prevent such incidents, especially near the beginning of the grieving process,” stresses Elizabeth Mostofsky, lead author of the research. In addition, experts believe that medical professionals should be aware that a grieving person has a much higher risk of heart attack than normal.
