The song says it all: Love hurts. Splitting up with a partner can break your heart.

The song says it all: Love hurts. Splitting up with a partner can break your heart.


But now European scientists think the broken-hearted face something beyond metaphoric damage to their body.

This analysis of romance gone bad begins in a Copenhagen biobank. That’s where data on Danish citizens record all sorts of health information. Scientists examined records of 4,800 participants ages 48 to 62. These data included blood tests on inflammatory markers, weight, medical conditions and medications taken.

Danes in this database also were asked about their history of breakups and how long they had lived alone.

Inflammation can be damaging to our cells. Chronic inflammation can lead to many bad outcomes, from heart disease and cancer to diabetes and cognitive decline.

Love inflames desire. A lack of it, at least in men, might inflame our cells.

Researchers found inflammatory markers were 17% higher in men who had suffered the highest number of partner separations and 12% greater in those who had lived alone at least seven years.

These associations were absent in women. Go figure. As to why, scientists could only speculate about the way the different sexes handle emotional heartache.

Also, the average age of those in the study was 54, when men typically have stronger inflammatory responses than women.

While the levels of inflammation were relatively low, investigators say they are nonetheless significant. They note the association could potentially shave time off the lives of the unlucky in love.

Perhaps the lesson here is to work harder at our relationships. More than love’s labors are lost in a breakup. So too might our health.

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