Divorced women at greater risk of suffering heart attack

A new study suggests a divorce can have serious physical effects on the heart, especially for women.

Researchers at Duke University found that women who divorced at least once were 24-percent more likely to have a heart attack, compared to women who stayed married.

And for women who divorced two or more times? Their heart attack risk jumped to 77-percent the same risk was not seen in men.

One possible explanation is that dramatic life changes, such as divorce, lead to spikes in the stress hormone Cortisol -- which then raise blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar.