People write love songs about it. Poetry talks about it. Most people have heard others say it. But is it really possible to die from a broken heart? Yes, says a recent study. People really can die of a broken heart, and the researchers now think they know why.
“When you think about people who have died of a ‘broken heart,’ there are probably several ways that can happen,” said Ilan S. Wittstein of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, whose findings appear in a February 10, 2005, New England Journal of Medicine. “A broken heart can kill you, and this may be one way.”
Trauma Leads to Heart Failure
The study notes that “a traumatic breakup, the death of a loved one, or even the shock of a surprise party can unleash a flood of stress hormones that can stun the heart, causing sudden, life-threatening heart spasms in otherwise healthy people,” researchers reported.
The broken-heart phenomenon triggers what appears to be a classic heart attack, putting victims at risk for potentially severe complications and even death, according to the research conducted at Johns Hopkins. But proper medical care can mend the physical aspect of a broken heart and avoid long-term damage.
While no one can pinpoint how often this happens, researchers suspect it is more frequent than most doctors realize. What researchers do know, however, is that it occurs primarily among older women and is usually mistaken for a traditional heart attack.
Woman Dies from Broken Heart
According to an article on WebMD, a chief medical examiner described a situation that had all of the hallmarks of a fatally broken heart. This medical examiner had recently performed autopsies on an octogenarian couple who died on the same day. The man, with a long history of heart disease, was found dead out in his farmyard.
“His wife, dead a shorter time, was found on the front porch, at an angle showing that she would have seen her husband’s body,” says the WebMD article. “Next to her was the bell she had brought to summon him to the lunch sitting on the table inside. Her autopsy showed no obvious cause of death other than a heart that had stopped.”
The New England Journal of Medicine study also notes that a spouse’s risk of death after a traumatic loss of a loved one remains increased for two years.
Dying from Grief
Suffering doesn't have to claim the lives of people in grief. There are ways to cope, including:
- Finding support to deal with the loss; support groups are there to help people get through the loss,
- Asking friends and family to check in from time to time,
- Grieving. It's a part of life. Don't look upon it a weakness. Everyone dies. And everyone grieves at some point.
- Visiting the family doctor to ask for help, medication if needed, and a check up.
While many can and will die from the unexpected death of a loved one, many can be saved from the grips of grief. Getting help is the first step.
For more information about grief and loss, go to Life After Loss or WebMD.
Kathy Jesperson - Kathy Jesperson is veteran journalist with more than 18 years’ experience. She has written about environmental health, water ...
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