Grief can literally break your heart
December 1st, 2011 - 8:19 am ICT by IANSSydney, Dec 1 (IANS) The loss of a loved one can really break your heart, scientists have warned.
Anastasia Susie Mihailidou, from the University of Sydney Medical School, says when we lose someone we love, it may feel as if our heart is breaking.
Milhailidou, senior clinical lecturer is part of a team led by Geoff Tofler, professor of medicine and Tom Buckley, Sydney Nursing School, based at the Royal North Shore Hospital campus.
The team is providing insight into why people grieving the loss of a loved one, such as a spouse or a parent, experience a heightened blood pressure (BP) variability, tied to stroke and other cardiovascular complications.
The team examined the heart rate and BP of 63 people whose spouse or parent died in hospital. Their BP and heart rate were recorded two weeks after the death and then again at six months, according to a Sydney statement.
Anastasia Mihailidou said all of the participants recorded at the two-week mark showed
heightened BP variability. She said the most telling sign was at the six-month mark. Heart rates had returned to normal but blood pressure was still fluctuating.
These results were compared to a group of 78 participants who saw their sick loved ones return home from hospital. Their heart rates and BP remained unchanged.
“The results indicate that someone who is grieving and who is already experiencing blood
pressure issues would find these problems amplified during or because of bereavement,”
Mihailidou said.
-Indo-Asian News Service
St/sd
- Beware that broken heart after bereavement - Jan 10, 2012
- Loss of loved one make grievers vulnerable to heart attacks - Sep 17, 2009
- Bereaved adults vulnerable to heart attacks - Sep 17, 2009
- Broken heart 'ups heart attack risk' - Sep 17, 2009
- Doc's white coat can send dog's pulses racing - Sep 07, 2011
- Exercise helps astronauts protect heart in space - Mar 23, 2012
- Sudden BP drop tied to greater chances of heart failure - Mar 20, 2012
- A broken heart can snuff out life - Mar 25, 2012
- Obese kids having cholesterol levels of 50-year-olds - Mar 23, 2011
- Combining two drugs treats blood pressure better - Jan 13, 2011
- Tomatoes can save you from high cholesterol - May 19, 2011
- Kids with high blood pressure struggle to learn - Nov 11, 2010
- New surgical procedure lowers blood pressure - Jan 18, 2012
- Heartbeat may offer insight into kidney health - Jul 09, 2010
- Can't say 'it's over'? Tell break-up agent - Sep 03, 2011
Tags: asian news, bereavement, blood pressure, bp, cardiovascular complications, clinical lecturer, grieving the loss of a loved one, heart rate, heart rates, indo, loss of a loved one, north shore, north shore hospital, nursing school, royal north shore, royal north shore hospital, tom buckley, university of sydney, university of sydney medical school, variability