Acute grief may cause a significant rise in blood pressure, which could be a risk factor for heart problems, In light of the recent news by a study by the University of Arizona. Researchers found an association between grief severity and elevated systolic blood pressure response, suggesting that grief may be a risk factor for cardiac events. The study involved 59 participants who had lost a close loved one within the past year. They were asked to focus on feelings of separation and attachment through a process called “grief recall”, and their blood pressure was measured before and after the exercise. The findings were published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine.
In light of the recent news by a recent study published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine, grief may increase the risk of cardiac events. The University of Arizona conducted research on the impact of sadness on heart function and found that acute grief may cause a significant rise in blood pressure.
Mary-Frances O’Connor, senior author of the study and a UArizona associate professor of psychology who specializes in grief, explained that the idea of “dying of a broken heart” following the loss of a loved one was the motivation for the research. Epidemiological studies have long documented the increased risk of mortality after the death of a loved one. The study by O’Connor and her colleagues looked at blood pressure as a possible contributing factor.
The study included 59 participants who had lost a close loved one in the past year. The researchers interviewed each participant and asked them to focus on feelings of separation and attachment through a process called “grief recall.” The participants were then asked to share a moment when they felt very alone after the death of their loved one. The researchers then measured the participants’ blood pressure.
Lead study author Roman Palitsky, who was a doctoral student at UArizona when the study was conducted and is now the director of research projects in spiritual health at Emory University Woodruff Health Sciences Center, explained that they were looking for a way to test the cardiovascular effects of grief during that vulnerable time in the first year after the loss.
“When you go to a cardiologist, they don’t just measure your blood pressure. They also sometimes do a stress test, like a treadmill, and measure your blood pressure. This is sort of like an emotional stress test,” O’Connor said.
After grief recall, the participants’ systolic blood pressure, which is the pressure that the heart exerts on the arteries while beating, increased. The study demonstrated an association between grief severity and elevated systolic blood pressure response.
The loss of a loved one may have a profound impact on both mental and physical health. Grief can cause intense emotional pain, and now research shows that it may also be a risk factor for cardiac events. It is essential to seek support and care during the grieving process to help manage the physical and emotional effects it can have on the body.
To terminate, grief may increase the risk of heart problems, as demonstrated by the recent study conducted by the University of Arizona. The emotional stress of grief may cause a significant rise in blood pressure, which may be a contributing factor to cardiac events. Seeking support and care during the grieving process is essential to manage the physical and emotional effects it can have on the body.
