Basically, grief affects our body in such a way that the immune system begins to function worse. After losing a loved one, the brain and body react as if they had lost an important line of defense. The immune system prepares to heal the body at an accelerated pace but at the same time weakens the body’s defenses against viruses.
This is why people are so vulnerable to flu and colds when faced with grief. At the same time, inflammatory reactions in the body increase, which can lead to nausea, fatigue, loss of pleasure, and feelings of social and behavioral isolation. Grief can also cause physical pain. One study found that increased production of immune system proteins may make grieving people more sensitive to pain.
Even your gut microbiome can be affected by grief. Chronic stress can cause gut bacteria to migrate out of the gastrointestinal tract, causing more inflammation.
Grieving for six months can even increase your chances of developing cancer and early death.
News materials cannot be equated with a doctor’s prescription. Consult an expert before making a decision.
Source: Ferra
I am a professional journalist and content creator with extensive experience writing for news websites. I currently work as an author at Gadget Onus, where I specialize in covering hot news topics. My written pieces have been published on some of the biggest media outlets around the world, including The Guardian and BBC News.
