• Question: can you really die of a broken heart?people say you can but is it true?i would really like to know:Dxxx

    Asked by libertylovesjustinbieber to Nik on 14 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Nicola Ibberson

      Nicola Ibberson answered on 14 Jun 2012:

      Yes, you can! There is actually a syndrome called Broken Heart Syndrome, however, you can get this syndrome for other reasons so it has another name too – stress cardiomyopathy.

      I did have a patient with this syndrome once: she had just lost her husband and the stress of the grief she felt caused the muscles in her heart to become weak. Fortunately, it was detected early and she was given treatment to help her heart cope (although once you have a broken heart it can’t be cured). People die of a broken heart when the weakening of the muscles goes undetected and leads to congestive heart failure.

      Very sad 🙁

      P.S. This doesn’t mean that you will definitely get this condition if you have a broken heart! It only happens very rarely.

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