PMID: 16642622Apr 29, 2006Paper

Late morbidity among Holocaust survivors: myth or fact?

Harefuah
Avi Ohry, Shaul M Shasha

Abstract

The harsh life in the ghettos and concentration/extermination camps during the Holocaust was characterized by hunger, exposure to extreme cold temperatures, continuous threats, infectious diseases and injuries with acute or permanent disabilities and extreme psychological stress. There is no definite scientific evidence that the Holocaust survivors are exposed to premature aging or premature appearance of various physical diseases. These aspects were thoroughly investigated in other populations: ex-prisoners of war, ex-displaced persons, prisoners and survivors of torture. Famine, disabilities, diseases and stress, particularly at the beginning of or during puberty, were found to increase vulnerability to later morbidity, especially hypertensive and cardiovascular disease and to increased mortality. This article discusses the possibility of premature aging among Holocaust survivors as a late effect of their life conditions during the Holocaust.

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Cardiovascular Disease Pathophysiology

Cardiovascular disease involves several different processes that contribute to the pathological mechanism, including hyperglycemia, inflammation, atherosclerosis, hypertension and more. Vasculature stability plays a critical role in the development of the disease. Discover the latest research on cardiovascular disease pathophysiology here.

© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved