A merry heart is essential for over-all wellbeing of an individual.

Apart from the scientific point of view, our heavenly Father who created scientists also establishes this fact.  Proverbs 17:22 says “a merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.”   I believe it is the same in other religious beliefs. A happy person is known simply by the appearances because a merry heart makes a cheerful countenance. It is my prayer that in this year 2012, sorrows shall be far from you. Amen

Laughter is a sign of merry heart and I want to implore many to please seize the opportunity of this season to laugh well. Laughter is your birthright, a natural part of life that is innate and inborn. Infants begin smiling during the first weeks of life and laugh out loud within months of being born. Laugh away your burden it helps your heart.

In the contrary at times it may be difficult to prevent grief, especially resulting from loss of loved ones in the family. In some culture, people monitor how grievous one is when you lose loved members of the family especially when it involves spouses. If husband or wife as the case may be does not mourn well after the death of their spouses, certain sinuations may be made as to cause of the death.  A widow was accused of being the brains behind the death of her husband just because she asked for food few hours after the death of her spouse. This notion still exists till today and has really affected her relationship with her in-laws. Neighbours who leave their homes laughing or jesting will suddenly change their mood as soon as they approach the place of mourning home and compound the sorrow of the bereaved. Please this culture has to change considering the effect of this psychological stress on your heart

The risk for cardiovascular events increases abruptly in the presence of acute psychological stress. Earlier studies have shown that grieving spouses have higher long-term mortality risk, with more than half of deaths attributable to cardiovascular diseases and strokes.

Psychological stress, such as that accompanying intense grief, may result in increased heart rate, blood pressure, and blood clotting, as well as less sleep, reduced appetite, and higher cortisol levels — all of which may increase the risk for a myocardial infarction (MI) or heart attack. The intensity of grief in the days after the death of a significant person has been associated with onset of acute heart attack. The bereaved are also more likely to neglect taking regular medications which can contribute to a greater chance of myocardial infarction.

Our esteemed readers, you will agree with me that the number of sudden death in the country has risen. I stand to be corrected; more than 80% is caused by heart attack. If it is stroke or other cardiovascular diseases, most victims would have reached hospital before dying. I saw few cases of heart attack during the nationwide strike underscoring the role of psychological stress and heart attack. Please manage your emotions well, coronary artery diseases is no longer restricted to whites alone. Be careful.

Bereaved individuals and their family and friends should be aware of the heightened risk of cardiovascular events in the days and weeks after hearing of a close relative’s death. In addition, doctors and other health care providers need to be aware of this link.

Study has found a staggering 21-fold increased risk in the first 24 hours of bereavement compared with other times. The results also show that the impact of profound grief on CV events is greatest in those at highest cardiovascular risk like uncontrolled hypertension and diabetes, obesity and unhealthy eating habit.

Mostofsky and colleagues found that the incidence of acute MI at onset was elevated 21.1-fold within 24 hours of the death of a significant person and declined on each subsequent day, although it remained 5.8-times higher than normal the first week after bereavement. The risk continued to fall steadily each day after that, but still remained elevated up to one month after the bereavement, the maximum time period examined in the study.

“It seems plausible that providing social support and ensuring compliance with primary and secondary prevention measures may help mitigate the heightened cardiovascular risk among individuals who recently experienced the loss of a significant person,” they advise.

I agree totally with this submission. There is time for everything, time to mourn and time to rejoice. If by chance you find yourself mourning, please do it with moderation and protect your heart. There is a Yoruba adage that says ‘’ oju mewa ko jo oju eni”. No matter the assurances, no one can manage your family as you will want. Even when you lose your spouse, keep yourself. God Almighty is there to support you.

Till next week, maintain a healthy heart