The Family Times April 2018

grandparents

Grieving Elderly and the Immune System By Susan Heckler Any type of loss or trauma throws your entire life into a tailspin. The loss of a loved one can particularly impact your emotional and physical health. When you are under stress, ever notice a change in your blood pressure? It also throws off your cholesterol levels, brain chemistry, blood sugar levels, and hormonal balance. Stress plays a major role in your immune system. Our bodies have a delicate balance of two stress hormones, cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS). While the stress hormone cortisol is known to suppress the immune system, DHEAS enhances it, so maintaining a relatively balanced ratio helps to keep your immune system functioning properly. New research shows that the elderly are more prone to a weakened immune system while grieving. They are more likely to develop infections than the younger people due to the hormonal imbalance. Studies noted illness-fighting white blood cells were reduced among the older bereaved study participants. By age 30, the amount of DHEAS we produce starts to decline, with elderly having about 20% of the DHEAS they had in their youth. Grief is also associated with chronic diseases like ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, heart disease, and cancer. This is due, at least in part, to chronically elevated cortisol. Researchers found that losing a significant person in your life raises your risk of having a heart attack the next day by 21 times, and in the following week by 6 times. "Broken Heart Syndrome" is basically a "temporary" heart attack that occurs due to stress. This diminishes after about a month. Sedentary behavior is linked to a 25 percent greater probability of being depressed compared to those who are active. This is true whether or not you’re grieving. It is uncertain which comes first, the depression or the inactivity, as one leads to the other in either direction. Activity triggers a number of neurotransmitters, such as endorphins, serotonin, dopamine, glutamate, and GABA. These are well-known for their role in mood control. In many cases, being physically active may alleviate the need for anti-depressants. During your time of crisis, pay careful attention to the elders and watch for warning signs.

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Family Times

APRIL 2018