We’ve all heard stories of individuals who died shortly after losing a long-time husband, wife, or life partner. Now medical scientists believe there is a plausible biological explanation for such cases of what some call “broken heart syndrome.”
Researchers at the University of Birmingham in the U.K. have found grieving causes stress hormones to become unbalanced, particularly in seniors, and this can weaken their immune systems, leaving them more vulnerable to death.
The findings are based on a study, published in the journal
Immunity and Ageing, involving 100 people — half of whom were aged over 65, and the others aged 18-45. The younger patients were found to have a more robust immune response to heartbreak, according to
The Telegraph.
“I believe it is the answer to why we sometimes see wives and husbands dying soon after the death of a spouse, who is their main social support,” researcher Anna Phillips, M.D., told The Telegraph.
“They are not dying of a broken heart, but the effect the stress is having on their immune function.”
The researchers believe prescribed hormonal supplements at times of great stress may help to alleviate the effects of grieving on the immune system.
“The effects of loss are poorly understood on the whole. We know it affects the immune system amongst other things. But we do not fully understand the role played by our stress hormones,” Dr. Phillips said. “We hope this is a step towards that understanding, and being able to provide the best possible support.”
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