The risk of a heart attack increases by 21 times during the first 24 hours after losingn a loved one. It is not uncommon to hear of one spouse dying and the other following in just a short time. The risk of heart attack remained 8 times above normal for a week and was still elevated to some extent after a month. The bereavement and grief associated leads to depression, anxiety, and anger and they are associated with a fast heart rate, increased blood pressure, increased coagulation, elevated stress hormones such as cortisol, epinephrine, and nor-epinephrine. This scenario is a shock to the heart and may lead to a cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure and death. It is a good idea to have support from family, friends, and psychological counselling.
