Grief Tied to Death
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The death of a loved one is a tragic and ultimately unavoidable experience that we all eventually face. Stories of spouses dying within days or even hours of each other are not uncommon. A recent study may explain why. Researchers from Rice University, Houston, Texas, found that individuals who struggle to overcome grief caused by the loss of a loved one may experience levels of inflammation high enough to cause heart damage.
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@prachi The study included 99 participants who had lost their spouse no later than 14 weeks prior to assessment. Participants must have been married to their partner for at least 3 years before the loss. This was because bereaved individuals are considered "fully attached" at this point, according to literature concerning adult attachment. Assessments consisted of a questionnaire packet, which was completed at the research facility or in participants' homes. Demographic, clinical, and anthropometric information such as weight, height, and waist measurement were collected. Nonfasting blood samples were taken between 7:30 AM and 11:00 AM to control for diurnal variation.