Grief doesn't just hurt — it may shorten your life: Study

Researchers are looking deeper into what grief does to the body months and even years later

What they're finding suggests that for some people, heartbreak might not just be a phase, but a long-term health risk

It's something we've heard for years. Can you die from a broken heart? According to America's Heart Association, yes

It turns out dying of a broken heart really does happen to people

The topic even saw renewed attention after the death of actress Carrie Fisher, whose mother passed away just one day after her in 2016

Broken heart syndrome is a condition triggered by intense emotional or physical stress, often mimicking a heart attack

For those who survive it, symptoms typically resolve within a few weeks

But now, researchers in Denmark are finding that some relatives, particularly those experiencing intense prolonged grief, were more likely to die within 10 years of their loss compared to those who grieved more mildly

Researchers measured grief symptoms from the Prolonged Grief 13 scale, including symptoms like intense longing, emotional numbness, anger, loneliness, and trouble accepting the loss, and they tracked how long those feelings lasted over time

The lead researcher told UPI participants with higher grief symptoms also tended to be less educated and showed signs of mental vulnerability prior to their loss

The lead researcher in the study also suggests doctors should look for a history of depression, anxiety, or other severe mental health conditions in grieving patients and follow up with care tailored to their needs

With Straight Arrow News, I'm Kennedy Felton. Download our app or visit san.com for more