Losing limbs hurts the heart! Study: Having experienced the death of a sibling may increase the risk of myocardial infarction by 66%
Are you more likely to have a heart attack after the death of a sibling? Study: Risk of myocardial infarction increased by 66%
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in adults, and past studies have pointed out that the stress of the death of a close relative may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). A recent observational study found that people who have experienced the death of a sibling from childhood to adulthood have a 17% higher risk of developing premature cardiovascular disease. In particular, the risk of myocardial infarction increases by 66%, and ischemic The risk of heart disease was also increased by 52% compared with those who had not experienced the death of a sibling. The study was published in JAMA Cardiology.
The research team analyzed more than 2 million records of Danish people born between 1978 and 2018, who are still in the young and middle-aged generation, to analyze the cardiovascular risks of those who have experienced the death of siblings, and excluded those with family history, congenital heart disease, and Related genetic disease factors, etc. The analysis showed that from childhood to adulthood, those who experienced the death of a sibling had a 17% increased risk of myocardial infarction, a 52% increased risk of ischemic heart disease, and a 50% increased risk of heart failure. Among them, those whose brothers and sisters died of cardiovascular disease had a 15.4% increase in their own cardiovascular disease.
Bereavement triggers long-term stress response, affecting heart rhythm stability and thrombosis
Yu Yongfu, one of the study authors and a professor at the School of Public Health, Fudan University School of Medicine, Shanghai, said that judging from the research results, when young people experience the death of a sibling, the stress response caused by bereavement may trigger changes in the brain and central nervous system. , affecting the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis). Being under stress reaction for a long time can easily lead to unstable heart rhythm, unstable myocardial blood supply, atherosclerosis and thrombosis.
In addition, the study also found that the risk of cardiovascular disease increased more than threefold in the first year after the death of a sibling, and the loss of a sibling or twin was associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. The research team also observed that 5-10 years after the death of a sibling, the risk of cardiovascular disease is still higher than that of the average person, indicating that the death of a sibling may bring long-term grief and stress to the surviving sibling, resulting in chronic effects on cardiovascular health. For those who have faced the death of a sibling, special attention should be paid to their potential risk of cardiovascular disease.
Experience of childhood adversity has profound effects, modest support for reducing heart disease risk in later life
Anish Dube, chairman of the Children’s Committee of the American Psychiatric Association, commented that this study highlights the profound impact of “childhood adversity experiences” on the body and the connection between physical and mental health. In some cases, more support and assistance should be given to young people and children who have lost siblings.
However, the research team should avoid pathologizing normal psychological processes, and clinical care and public health personnel should allow all individuals to deal with bereavement grief in their own way, considering whether their family and psychosocial support systems are adequate and whether they have symptoms related to chronic diseases. Then decide the time to intervene in medical treatment.
According to the research results, exposure to sibling death in childhood and early adulthood is associated with an increased risk of premature cardiovascular disease. However, this study has many research limitations, including the inability to completely exclude other environmental and genetic factors, and the diagnostic criteria for cardiovascular disease may not be consistent. In addition, the Danish health welfare system differs from other countries in the level of social welfare care. The study also did not include data on relationship quality, social support and psychological counseling. Psychological attention and spiritual support should be given to young people and children who have lost siblings to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease in later life.
source:
Sibling Death in Childhood and Early Adulthood and Risk of Early-Onset Cardiovascular Disease
