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Heart attack risk increases after losing loved one

Category: Heart Health and Cholesterol

Individuals who have received unhealthy cholesterol test results may want to pay extra condition to their cardiovascular health in the days and weeks following the death of a loved one, as new research indicates that a person's risk of suffering a heart attack while they are in bereavement is considerably elevated.

The researchers said that extreme psychological stress, the kind associated with the death of a loved one, has been shown to raise blood pressure and increase blood clotting. Also, many individuals, consumed by their grief, stop taking care of themselves. These factors together may account for the association uncovered by the investigation.

For the study, researchers examined the medical records of 1,985 heart attack survivors. The results showed that the risk of suffering a cardiovascular event was 21 times higher the day after losing a loved one. It remained six times higher during the course of the following week. Heart attack risk stayed elevated throughout the first month after losing someone.

The researchers said that caregivers and family members should pay extra attention to individuals with cardiovascular risk factors who have recently lost someone.