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THE DEATH OF a life partner may trigger an irregular heartbeat, itself potentially life-threatening, new research into the risk of dying from a broken heart has shown.
A trawl of data on nearly a million Danes showed an elevated risk, lasting about a year, of developing a heart flutter. Under-60′s whose partners died unexpectedly were most in peril.
The risk was highest “8-14 days after the loss, after which it gradually declined,” said a study published in the online journal Open Heart.
“One year after the loss, the risk was almost the same as in the non-bereaved population.”
Much research has focused on explaining the observed phenomenon of people dying soon after their life partner.
Several studies have shown that grieving spouses have a higher risk of dying, particularly of heart disease and stroke, but the mechanism is unclear.
The latest study asked specifically whether bereaved partners were more likely than others to develop atrial fibrillation, the most common type of irregular heartbeat and a risk factor for stroke and heart failure.
Researchers in Denmark used population data collected between 1995 and 2014 to search for a pattern.
Of the group, 88,612 people had been newly diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AF) and 886,120 were healthy.
“(T)he risk of developing an irregular heartbeat for the first time was 41% higher among those who had been bereaved than it was among those who had not experienced such a loss,” said the study.
Younger people, those under 60, were more than twice as likely to develop problems, and those whose partners were relatively healthy in the month before death, thus not expected to die, were 57% more at risk.
The team cautioned that no conclusions can be drawn about cause and effect, as the study was merely an observational one, looking at correlations in data.
Several factors that could throw the findings out of whack, such as the bereaved group’s diet, exercise regime, or predisposal to AF, were not known.
The loss of a partner is considered one of the most stressful life events.
It can lead to mental illness symptoms such as depression, and can cause people to lose sleep and appetite, drink too much and stop exercising – all known health risks.
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I have no doubt about this. I’ve heard of multiple occasions when one half of a long marriage dies, and the other half joins them within days.
I’ve seen it happen my granmother nd grandfather both died a week apart after being married for over 60 years and were in there 80s .
Not entirely related, but I remember that poor woman Peggy Mangan, who was missing from Dublin for days. When her body was discovered, her loyal dog who had stayed by her side the whole time, passed away within hours. One of the saddest and most tragic stories I’ve ever heard of.
That was indeed a sad case …… I remember being up in IKEA (they had narrowed the location to that area) and seeing the search parties around – very odd sight in a non rural setting – the day before she and the faithful little dog were found.
The dog died from lack of water though. Still sad. Never left her.
Headline “You can actually dies from a broken heart new research has shown”
Story “The team cautioned that no conclusions can be drawn about cause and effect, as the study was merely an observational one, looking at correlations in data.”
Couple married for 73 years die within five minutes of each other in separate care home
Makes you wonnder about all the women you know who’ve outlived their husband by thirty years.
So that’s ‘what becomes of the broken hearted’..I’ll get my coat
James, That was actually much better than you’re being given credit for!!
This fact has been known for some time. ‘Broken heart syndrome’ – where the cascade of neurotransmitters and hormone released during intense grief, conspire and cause heart failure
‘Some may say she died of a collapsed ventricle, but I know she really died of a broken heart’
Isn’t a collapsed ventricle a broken heart ?
Politicians have broken all our hearts with little effect to their own
people are under so much stress this days and certainly working with people who have no manners just leaves me wondering what is it all about no wonder my heart does it’s usual leaping about and especially when you have no confidence in yourself it makes it worse but it is a true saying when you are with someone so long your heart does break and you want to be with the person you loved so much for all of your life because they made you feel so safe
I’d well believe that
This Country is not helping!
The mind and body are linked…
Hello Everyone, who still care about his/her ex-lover/husband or wife. I am Mrs kamogelo from South Africa I never though my husband will come back to me again, I am very happy at last that my husband came back to me after i was acquise of been barren of not been able to bring front children,Then i came across Dr Max who help me in bring back my husband to his sense with a spell and now i have a baby girl to show to the world that i am fruitful. i am grateful and happier than never before, Thank You Doctor for helping me, email: princeomoebos@gmail.com, if you still love or want your ex-lover and happy marriage with children
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