March 31, 2008 (Chicago) — If the anniversary of the loss of a loved one is approaching, try to prepare for the grief you will experience. That’s the advice of doctors who found that the psychological stress associated with that date may raise your own risk of dying suddenly.
“The anniversary of the death of a close family member, especially a mother or father, is an important trigger of sudden death, especially in males,” says researcher Ivan Mendoza, MD, of the Central University of Venezuela in Caracas.
Who Is Vulnerable to Sudden Death?
According to Mendoza, sudden death is responsible for nearly half of all cardiac deaths. Sudden death is unexpected and occurs rapidly, frequently within an hour after symptoms such as chest pain or breathlessness strike. It’s usually caused by abnormal heart rhythms.
You may be especially vulnerable if you have had a heart attack or if you have a family history of sudden death or heart disease, or heart disease risk factors such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes, he says.
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