How understanding a form of broken heart syndrome could save lives

Better recognition and understanding of a lesser-known form of broken heart syndrome, takotsubo syndrome, could be key to protection from sudden cardiac death, says Sian Harding

By Sian Harding

IS IT really possible to die from a broken heart? This question often comes up in the press when someone dies suddenly following a bereavement – for example, when Debbie Reynolds died a day after her daughter, Carrie Fisher. The answer is yes, there is strong evidence to show that extreme and/or sudden emotional stress can have direct and damaging effects on the heart.

Cardiac arrest is caused by severe disturbances to the heart’s rhythm. It can be triggered by highly stressful situations such as bereavement, which has led to the term broken heart syndrome. Arguments and dramatic events like …