Intense grief, such as what’s felt at the death of a spouse, can increase a person’s risk of developing cardiac problems that lead to death, according to a new article by two prominent Cleveland Clinic cardiologists.
The article — “Can you really die of a broken heart?” — appears in Psychology Today and was penned by Dr. Steven Nissen, the Clinic’s chair of cardiovascular medicine, and Dr. Marc Gillinov, a staff cardiac surgeon at the Clinic.
With the Rise of AI, What IP Disputes in Healthcare Are Likely to Emerge?
Munck Wilson Mandala Partner Greg Howison shared his perspective on some of the legal ramifications around AI, IP, connected devices and the data they generate, in response to emailed questions.
“We have long known that death of a husband or wife is sometimes followed within a few months by death of the surviving spouse,” they wrote. “The common explanation is almost a cliche — ‘He died of a broken heart after he lost his wife.’ In fact, this statement is often correct.”
The physicians identify two major cardiac problems that can be brought on by intense grief: stress cardiomyopathy, a condition in which physical stress causes rapid and severe heart-muscle weakness, and the standard heart attack.
Nissen and Gillinov note a recent Harvard Medical School study that showed the risk of a heart attack was increased a “shocking” twenty-one fold during the first 24 hours after the death of a loved one. Grieving people with coronary heart disease or “substantial risk factors” are the most vulnerable.
The cardiologists recommend people keep close tabs on a grieving family member to make sure that he’s taking his medicine, getting enough rest and maintaining a good diet.
A Personalized Approach to Medication Nonadherence
At the Abarca Forward conference earlier this year, George Van Antwerp, managing director at Deloitte, discussed how social determinants of health and a personalized member experience can improve medication adherence and health outcomes.
Nissen and Gillinov have teamed up to write a new book, Heart 411: The Only Heart Guide You Will Ever Need, scheduled to be released on Jan. 31.
[Photo from flickr user: CarbonNYC]
