GRIEVING for a close relative or friend puts you at risk of dying from a broken heart, experts say.
Blood pressure was found to increase when mourning for a loved one — putting extra strain on the heart.
Even asking people to recall their grieving raised blood pressure to a level usually seen after moderate exercise.
And those who were the most upset had the highest level of strain on their circulation.
Researchers from Arizona University in the US looked at 59 people who had lost a close loved one in the past year.
The team talked to each participant for ten minutes and asked them to remember a moment when they felt very alone after the death.
Researcher Mary-Frances O’Connor said the research was motivated by the notion of dying from a broken heart.
She said: “It isn’t just the death of a loved one that impacts the heart but our emotional response to loss.
“It’s important for grieving clients to get regular medical check-ups.”
She said we also neglect our own health when we have been caring for a loved one who’s dying.
