Doctors: You Can Die from a Broken Heart
By:
FOCUS ON HEALTH - Love is a many splendor thing or it can break your heart.
Because sometimes when someone loses a spouse or loved one for whatever reason, the stress and the anxiety can lead to health problems.
In fact, recent studies have shown that people whose spouses die, have a higher chance of suffering a heart attack immediately after the death, especially when they are older.
"Within a 24 hour period after the death of one spouse there was a much higher likelihood of sudden death of the surviving spouse of about a magnitude of 21 fold," said Dr. Michael Miller with the University of Maryland's School of Medicine.
A loss of a love can cause a physical condition known as takotsubo or broken heart syndrome.
Although doctors don't understand why it happens, it usually occurs after a tragic event.
"This can present very much like a heart attack, it can present with chest pains, it can present with abnormalities on the electrocardiogram because what happens to this broken heart, it's not truly broken, the top part of the half squeezes fine, but the bottom is motionless," said Dr. Nanette Wenger with the American Heart Association.
Traditionally, those who suffer from broken heart syndrome do recover.
However, cardiologists recommended those who have suffered a loss see their doctor to talk about ways to cope.
If at all possible, these patients should surround themselves with friends and family as they go through the grieving process.
