It has been said for years, ‘they died of a broken heart’, and that seems to be true. Studies done at John Hopkins Hospital call it ‘broken heart syndrome’ where a surge of hormones impairs the muscle in the heart to pump.

One to two per cent of people thought to have died from a heart attack actually died from broken heart syndrome. It is more common in older people who have been with the same person for many years and suddenly lose them. Its stress, related to sadness that triggers it.

It’s not clear if middle aged women are more at risk than men but they may be because one cause may be related to different hormone levels in men and women. A doctor will be able to do an evaluation to tell the difference. It is more common in elderly couples but can happen to anyone.

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