That old saying, "she died of a broken heart?" It's not just poetry. Studies have shown that some people who lose a loved one may ___1___ a heart attack or cardiac death. And new research, presented this week at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions, ___2___ for why. [Thomas Buckley et al., "Early Bereavement is Associated with Increased Heart Rate and Reduced Heart Rate Variability"]
The subjects in the study included 78 volunteers who'd recently lost a spouse or child at a hospital, and a control group whose relatives survived the hospital stay. The average age of both groups was about 65. Researchers ___3___ the participants’ heart rates and rhythms for 24 hours, once within two weeks of the family death and again six months later.
Soon after their loss ___4___ had an average heart rate of 75 beats per minute, five beats more than the controls. And twice as many episodes of tachycardia: rapid heartbeats. They also scored higher on depression and anxiety tests, as you'd expect, which could be behind the physiological changes.
The good news: after six months, heart rates and rhythms were back to normal. But if you've just lost someone and feel physical heartache, the researchers recommend seeing a doctor. It could save someone else from ___5___.
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