London, Apr 23 (ANI): A recent study has revealed that in a long term relationship, the death of a partner can increase the chances of the other partner to succumb to potentially fatal ailments like cancer and heart problems.

The study found that such chances increased by 27 percent, and has linked the phenomenon to a couple’s lifestyle like poor diet or smoking.

The reason could also be depression caused by the loss of a loved one.

The study conducted by Glasgow University researchers analysed the history of thousands of couples since the 1970s and found that the demise of a spouse or a partner is an extra risk factor.

Stewart Wilson, an executive director of counselling charity Cruse Bereavement Care, said the study brought attention to the subject bereavement.

“In a way it is the last taboo. People will talk about their sex lives or how much money they make before they will talk about being bereaved,” Daily Mail quoted Wilson, as saying.

“When a couple have been together a long time, the incidence of long-term survival is relatively low for the other partner,” he added.

Mr Wilson said that in bad marriages there also unfinished issues to deal with.

“Where the relationship has been difficult, that is sometimes even harder to deal with, because there are unfinished issues,” he said. (ANI)