Can you die of a broken heart?
The stress of losing a loved one increases the risk of heart attack, particularly in people already at risk. The risk is 21 times higher than normal during the first 24 hours, then gradually declines. The risk of dying from a heart attack after the loss of a loved one is also 20% to 53% higher in the months following the death. In people without heart disease, grief can cause the heart to malfunction, making it a less-effective pump. This condition, known as stress cardiomyopathy, is generally reversible.
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