Husbands and wives who feel the strain of caring for a sick or disabled spouse are at a higher risk of stroke than those who do not have to care for their significant other, a new study suggests.
Spouse caregivers who said they were stressed had a 95 percent higher stroke risk when compared to "matched" non-caregivers with similar demographic, lifestyle and stroke risk factors, according to the study.
Stroke is one of the leading causes of adult disability, so overnight someone can go from perfectly fine to having severe impairments in physical and cognitive function, and this can put a really big strain on the family.
Chronic stress boosts blood levels of the hormone cortisol and heightens inflammation in the body. This can cause arteries to harden and narrow and, ultimately, restrict blood flow to the brain, resulting in a stroke.
It's important to study the health effects of caregiving, particularly as adults in the "sandwich generation" take care of elderly family members as well as their own children.
For the study, researchers examined data for more than 6,000 caregivers and non-caregivers who participated in a study of men and women aged 45 or older who enrolled from 2003 to 2007.
Participants were deemed caregivers if they were providing care on an ongoing basis to any family member with a chronic illness or disability.
Caregivers were asked about their relationship to the patient and the amount of physical and mental strain they associated with that care -- either none, some, or a lot.
During an average 8.5 year follow-up period, the caregivers who reported moderate or high levels of strain from handling the needs of their ill or disabled spouse showed a statistically significant increase in stroke risk.
Depression and isolation may also be factors in their perceived stress levels.
Researchers noted that family caregivers are "very under supported." As a first step, they suggested that physicians speak to family caregivers of ill and disabled patients about having their own health evaluated.
Researchers encourages the patients who are under stress to take time for themselves each day to focus on their own well-being, by exercising or meditating. For example. Tasly Health Product is one of the best choice.
Future research should examine the cumulative effects of chronic psychological stress on caregiving, including financial strain and work-related stress.
When you take care of others, please do not forget to take care of yourself.
Reference
WebMD News from Health Day, By Karen Pallarito, Health Day Reporter
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