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Grief over death of loved one raises risk of illness, death11 December, 2007 The grieving that follows the death of a loved one can increase one’s risk of physical and mental illness as well as of death. And, the first month after loss is the most vulnerable time. In a new study, death of a spouse has been found to be highly stressful and ranks as the “life event” needing the most “readjustment.” Men are 21% more likely to die after the loss of their wife, while widows have a 17% increased risk. The bereaved are also more likely to have a range of medical problems and suffer from mental illness, including depression, despair, loss of appetite, and fatigue. Experts from the Netherlands, who reviewed studies conducted on bereavement (defined as “recently losing a significant person to death”) in the United States, Europe, Australia, and other countries, found that that death, illness, and emotional distress are more likely among the bereaved than among other people, especially in the first six months of bereavement. The study, published in the British medical journal The Lancet, was conducted by Margaret Stroebe and colleagues, of the Research Institute for Psychology and Health at Utrecht University, the Netherlands, in association with the Dutch Association for Grief Counseling. The researchers wrote, “The higher death rate among the bereaved is attributable in large part to a so-called broken heart. Suicide, alcohol-related deaths, and heart disease deaths are among the risks. Non-fatal illnesses also rise during bereavement.” The researchers continued, “Psychologically, bereavement is a harrowing experience for most people, one that causes considerable upset and disruption of everyday life. For most people, the experience, though difficult, is tolerable and abates with time.” The bereavement experience of each person is unique. While no one can replace the person who has died, support from friends and family makes a difference, says the researchers. According to the researchers, while grief is normal, complicated grief, which is defined as an unusually long and/or intense grieving period, is rare but might require professional counseling. However, Margaret Stroebe notes, many people go through bereavement without seeking counseling. More research needs to be done on targeting high-risk individuals and on what types of interventions might be helpful, she adds in the study in the December 8, 2007, issue of The Lancet.
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