Apparently, it can. If you have experienced the death of a loved one, chances are you are 21 times higher in the first day after the loss to have a heart attack and six times higher than average in the week after. The risk declines slowly over the next month. (Journal of the American Heart Association http://circ.ahajournals.org/).
Reasons as to why “Broken Heart Syndrome” (called takotsubo) occurs are uncertain but intense grief bombards our system with stress hormones and other factors that can increase heart rate, blood pressure, blood clotting plus other factors that place your heart at risk. If you are grieving you are also liable to be losing sleep, eating less and missing your medications, all of which may increase the chance of a heart attack.
Some may ignore heart attack warning signs after the death of a loved one putting it down to stress or depression and do not seek medical care.
Is there anything we can do? Allow others to comfort and support you especially at the beginning of the grieving process; don’t attribute heart attack symptoms to stress alone – treat the situation seriously and seek immediate medical advice; ensure your diet and medications routine are maintained.
Grief-related heart attack is still a relatively rare occurrence when compared to other causes but there is enough evidence to suggest that your medical practitioner should take it into consideration.
Heart attack symptoms include chest discomfort or pain, stomach pain, shortness of breath, nausea and lightheadedness.
Grief and loss may be soul destroying. In this saddest of times, it is important you take care of yourself.
