Physical Symptoms of Grief: How Loss Affects the Body

People can suffer from grief for a range of reasons. According to a study by Amerispeak and WebMD, as many as 57% of Americans are grieving a major loss they've experienced in the last three years.

Grief can have a huge impact on a person's mental health, but what many people don't realize is that it can also have some very serious physical effects. These can be particularly risky for seniors who may not be able to deal with the physical symptoms of grief quite as well.

Identifying these symptoms can make things easier. Nursing homes in Riverside, CA, can also help those who are suffering from grief later in life.

Let's take a look at what you should look out for and how you can effectively cope with grief.

Most Common Physical Symptoms of Grief

Everyone can experience different bereavement effects. As such, you could be faced with grief-related health issues that others may not. There are some symptoms that can be more common, so you should look out for these.

Impacted Immune System

While it doesn't typically happen to too many people, grief can cause immune system dysfunction. This can lead to an increase in general inflammation as well as a greater risk of infections.

Grieving people typically have lower levels of certain immune system cells, making it more difficult for their bodies to fight off potential threats.

Infections can be very dangerous for seniors, so this is something that should always be taken seriously. Vaccines can also be less effective for people whose immune system is compromised.

Experienced professionals who specialize in senior living in Riverside, CA, have the expertise to identify certain health issues in seniors. If you live in a retirement community, you may be at less risk as caregivers might notice certain issues quickly.

Sleep Issues

Another possible stress response when experiencing grief is trouble sleeping. Fortunately, this can be much easier to spot. If you're grieving, you might notice a change in both the quality and quantity of sleep you're able to get.

While this isn't fully understood, some experts believe this is because people may think about their loved ones more at night, even potentially dreaming about them. If you have issues with your sleep, you'll not only be more tired during the day, but you could also experience headaches and have trouble focusing.

Physical Pain

There can be connections between both psychological and physical pain, and experts also aren't entirely sure about why this is. The most common theory is that it's possible for the activation of psychological pain pathways to alter (and amplify) the way a person experiences physical pain.

When someone is grieving, they might have an increased risk of chest pain. This could be due to an increase in cortisol (from stress) which can constrict the blood vessels, impacting blood flow.

Despite the fact that research is still needed to fully understand this issue, it's clear that there is a connection between mourning and physical pain.

Digestive Problems

There are several abdominal-related issues that can arise from grief. Some typical examples include:

Overeating
Appetite loss
Stomach pain
Nausea

These can all have knock-on effects, leading to other health issues. They could even make the issues above worse. Digestive problems could also cause nutrient and vitamin deficiencies.

Grief is often accompanied by issues like depression and anxiety. They can cause eating disorders and gastrointestinal distress, further compounding these problems.

Communities dedicated to memory care and assisted living in Riverside, CA, can be very beneficial here. Caregivers can keep an eye on the eating habits of residents to make sure they're maintaining a balanced diet that supports their health.

Heart Health

Grief and other issues that cause significant emotional or physical stress can cause Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy; also known as "broken heart syndrome". This can weaken the heart's left ventricle, leading to heart attack-like symptoms. Fortunately, this often resolves itself within about a month.

However, in some cases of severe grief, an actual heart attack can occur. Grief increases heart rate and blood pressure similar to a panic attack. As a result, your blood vessels can tighten, making it more likely that plaque will break off which can cause a heart attack.

Stress from grief can also cause atrial fibrillation which is an irregular heartbeat.

Common symptoms of a heart attack include:

Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Lightheadedness

If you're experiencing a heart attack, it's crucial to get medical assistance immediately. If you live at home alone, this could be quite difficult. This is one of the many reasons you may be safer opting for senior living in Riverside.

Senior living communities have trained staff on-site who can contact the emergency services when needed. Emergency call buttons are common practice in such communities. If you notice any of these symptoms, you can press your button to get immediate help.

Tips for Coping With Grief

Dealing with a major loss is never easy. It can dramatically change your life, and how you feel afterward can vary significantly from day to day. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to make it easier to cope.

Going to bed at the same time every night will help you maintain a balanced routine. Sticking to this can help bring calm, and soothing activities like reading or having a bath before bed can help further.

Try to keep your diet balanced and healthy. Eating correctly is one of the best ways to stay physically and emotionally healthy.

Hobbies can help you relieve stress, and it's even better if they involve exercise. It's important to stay physically active in your later years, as doing so can benefit your health in various ways.

Don't Let Grief Defeat You

Both the mental and physical symptoms of grief can be difficult to cope with, especially if you're tackling this challenge alone. Opting for assisted living or memory care in Riverside, CA, can be the best choice.

Discovery Commons Raincross is dedicated to providing a comfortable, welcoming environment for seniors. Whether you need memory care or assisted living in Riverside, we can determine your needs and provide personalized care that can help you deal with grief and a range of other issues.