It is known that parents who have lost a child are at high risk of contracting mental illness. And only after seven or nine years it becomes easier for them and they feel the same as those who have not experienced the loss of a child.
According to a large Danish registry study, parents of a deceased child have a 60-80% higher risk of hospitalization for mental disorders. In general, mothers are more likely to be hospitalized. Additionally, parents who survive the death of a child are 40% more likely to die themselves within 18 years of the loss.
The increased risk of death in these individuals may be due to several factors. This is partly the psychological consequences that lead to depression and anxiety. But in this case, there are also biological changes in the body.
According to Karolinska Institutet scientist Dang Wei, when a person experiences intense grief, they also experience shock. This affects the cardiovascular system and hormone production in the body. As a result, biomarkers are released that cause high blood pressure, inflammation, and an elevated heart rate. All this increases the likelihood of developing heart disease and heart attack.
News cannot be equated with a doctor’s prescription. Consult an expert before making a decision.
Source: Ferra
