Health Risks to Cancer Caregivers

Previously, a number of studies report that relatives of chronically ill patients, especially cancer patients, are at an increased risk of mental illness and depression, which thereby can affect the nervous system, blood pressure and inflammation, in-turn potentially raising the risk of developing coronary heart disease and stroke. Jianguang Ji, from Lund University (Sweden), and colleagues investigated the specific risk for coronary heart disease and stroke when an individual's spouse is suffering from cancer.  The study showed that the risk for coronary heart disease and stroke increased by between 13 and 29% in people whose partner had cancer. Positing that most of the increased risk is probably explained by the negative stress to which the spouse of the cancer-stricken patient is exposed, the study authors urge that: “Clinical attention should be paid to spousal caregivers, especially those caring for cancer patients with high mortality rates.”