BASEL, Switzerland, March 1 (UPI) -- One-third of people who suffer heart attacks discover new meaning to their lives and reconnect with their partner, reports a U.S. and Swiss study.
However, the study of 24 couples also found that others see a heart attack as a threat to their well-ordered existence, according to research published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing.
"All the couples experienced a brush with death at the onset of the disease, which called for changes in their lifestyle," says lead researcher Dr. Romy Mahrer-Imhof of the Institute of Nursing at the University of Basel.
"Three distinct patterns of dealing with the patient's heart attack emerged. People either made positive changes to their lives, felt negative about the experience or tried to turn their lives around but failed."
