When We Are Broken Heart Heart Attack More Risk

Broken hearts can actually cause death. A study showed that people who are mourning the loss of a loved one 21 times more likely to suffer a heart attack.

"Caregivers, health care providers and those who are grieving themselves need to recognize the high risk period in the days and weeks after hearing a loved one is dying," said Dr.. Murray Mittleman, a cardiovascular disease prevention and epidemiology at Harvard Medical School in the United States.

In this study, researchers looked at the charts of patients who were interviewed in hospital after suffering a heart attack in 1989 through 1994.

Patients answered questions about his heart attack, and whether they have just lost someone important in life a year earlier, when death occurs, and how close their relationship.

The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association estimates the risk of heart attack by comparing the number of patients who lost loved ones in a week before his heart attack deaths by the number of people who are important in life from one to six months before his heart attack.

The researchers found that grieving spouses die at high risk for health, 53 percent of the cause is heart disease and stroke. The risk of heart attack increased 21 times higher than usual on the first day of mourning, and almost 6 times higher than normal in the first week of mourning.

Researchers also found an increased risk of heart attack in the first week after losing a loved one is one of 320 people at high risk of heart attack and one of 1394 people with a lower risk of heart attack.

Psychological distress caused by grief can increase heart rate, blood pressure and blood clotting, which can increase the likelihood of heart attacks.

When grieving, people tend to lack of sleep, low appetite and kortisolnya levels (stress hormone) is high, which also may increase the risk of heart attack.

"People who are grieving also sometimes neglect to take medication on a regular basis, so that it can lead to incidents that are harmful to the heart. Your friends and family mourners should give support to prevent such incidents, especially in the early period of mourning," said researcher Elizabeth Mostofsky.

"Medical professionals should be aware that the period of mourning at high risk of heart attack than usual. During experiencing extreme grief and psychological distress, people still need to take care of yourself and seek medical attention for symptoms associated with heart attacks," added Dr. Mittleman .

Signs of heart attack include chest discomfort, pain in the upper body or abdomen, shortness of breath, nausea, and sweating or dizziness.