Researchers evaluated 501 people who had a relative who was hospitalized for coronary issues and found that 39 percent of the participants were their caregivers and they were mostly married women over the age of 50. This same group also reported some risks factors—diets high in saturated fat, large waist-to-hip ratios, high stress and depression.
The good news? That with a little motivation, support from others and lifestyle changes, their health turned around. “It’s important that we develop more systematic approaches to identifying caregivers, educating them and providing them with the proper support systems,” Lori Mosca, MD, PhD, the study’s lead author, told Web MD. “If a caregiver dies of a heart attack, it’s not going to help the cardiac patient.”
NEW! Scroll down to comment on this story.
Previous Comments:
Please click OK to confirm your comment and confirm you accept our posting rules. Note your message will be reviewed by our staff before going live.
