"Grief is not heartbreak. The rest of the body breaks, too."
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Adult Sibling Loss: Physical Responses
There is an unfounded perception that sibling loss in adulthood has little or no impact. Nothing could be further from the truth! We often hear about the emotional and mental impact of grief but physical consequences should be prioritized as well. It is crucial to explore these aspects and how they impact the body over time.
Dr. Erica Goldblatt Hyatt, author of Grieving for the Sibling You Lost, discusses how grief can manifest physically in bereaved siblings.
Besides acute symptoms including headaches and lack of appetite, grief has long-term physical imprints on sibling grievers. These long-term repercussions can be life-threatening if they are not recognized and managed. Research suggests that bereaved siblings have a higher mortality rate than non-bereaved siblings and an increased risk of the following medical conditions:
Myocardial infarction (also known as a heart attack) occurs when part of the heart muscle does not receive enough blood. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 805,000 persons in the United States have a myocardial infarction yearly.
A stroke is a serious medical ailment that affects 800,000 persons in the United States annually. Those who suffer from a stroke can experience impairments including brain damage, disability, and also death.
Suicide affects persons of all ages and is among the top 9 leading causes of death between ages 10-64. Close to 46,000 people died by suicide in 2020 and each loss impacts the health and well-being of family, friends, and the community.