In the 1960s, singer David Ruffin asked the question, “What becomes of the broken-hearted?” The answer, according to the American Heart Association, may be troubling.
In a new study, the AMA reported the risk of heart attack may drastically increase after the loss of a close loved one, especially if the survivor has pre-existing heart problems.
The study of 1,985 people who survived heart attacks found their chances of having another one were 21 times higher than normal within the first day and six times higher than normal within the first week of a loved one's death.
AMA researchers found that the stress of dealing with a death can increase the heart rate, blood pressure and blood clotting, increasing the chances of heart attack. Grievers also may neglect to take care of themselves, including failing to take necessary medications.
“Friends and family of bereaved people should provide close support to help prevent such incidents, especially near the beginning of the grieving process,” said Elizabeth Mostofsky, the lead author, said in her research.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women, according to the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Each year nearly 800,000 Americans have their first heart attack and nearly half a million who have already had one or more heart attacks have another one.
While the AMA study is the first to track heart attacks in the first few days of grieving, this isn’t the first time researchers have suspected a connection between heart attacks and grief.
Previous research has shown that grieving spouses have higher long-term risks of dying, with heart disease and strokes accounting for up to 53 percent of deaths.
In addition, "broken-heart syndrome" is a condition that researchers say mimics a heart attack and can be triggered by anxiety. In a report on broken-heart syndrome last year, the Wall Street Journal described it as "a surge of adrenaline that overwhelms the heart," freezing the heart's main pumping chamber and disrupting its ability to effectively pump blood. By contrast, a heart attack is usually caused by a blocked artery that starves the heart muscle of oxygenated blood.
The AMA said that since the bereaved may be in a period of heightened risk immediately after the death of a close loved one, family and friends should be on heightened alert.
"During situations of extreme grief and psychological distress, you still need to take care of yourself and seek medical attention for symptoms associated with a heart attack,” Mostofsky said in her research.
