Hearts really can 'break' after death of loved one
Apr-09-2016

Losing your nearest and dearest may break your heart, literally.

People are more likely to develop an irregular heartbeat following the death of their spouse or life partner, particularly if they're younger or the loved one died unexpectedly, a new study suggests.

Risk of atrial fibrillation -- a quivering or irregular heartbeat that can cause stroke and heart disease -- was 41 percent higher among people mourning the death of their partner, compared to others who are not grieving, Danish researchers report.

The study reinforces earlier research that has suggested a link between heart rhythm problems and emotional turmoil, said Dr. Mark Estes, director of the New England Cardiac Arrhythmia Center at Tufts Medical Center, in Boston.

"Many patients describe that their atrial fibrillation gets worse at a time of emotional stress," Estes said. "This really validates prior observations. It's something we hear from our patients all the time."

People younger than 60 were more than twice as likely to develop atrial fibrillation if they lost their partner, the new study reported.

In addition, those whose partners were relatively healthy in the month before they died were 57 percent more likely to develop atrial fibrillation. This increased risk was not seen in people whose partners were ailing and expected to die soon.

In both cases, it appears that the shock of the death added to the impact of the event on the survivor's health, said Dr. Mary Norine Walsh, medical director of heart failure and cardiac transplantation at St. Vincent Heart Center in Indianapolis.

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