Debbie Reynolds, age 84, died suddenly one day after her daughter, Carrie Fisher’s death. The probable cause of death is broken heart syndrome. Broken heart syndrome is a real condition caused by extreme psychological pain. The medical name for broken heart syndrome is Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, chosen by the Japanese researcher who identified the syndrome in 1990. The word “takotsubo” means octopus trap. The shape of the trap resembles the shape of the left ventricle during the initiation of the medical condition.
Intense emotional stress triggers the release of high levels of adrenaline, catecholamines and other chemicals associated with grief and other traumatic experiences. When intense grief is prolonged, the levels of these chemicals can increase and become toxic, causing heart failure. Specifically, the left ventricle swells, reducing the efficiency of the heart to pump blood. The slowing of the blood flow can cause blood clots. The blood clots cause heart failure or a stroke. The symptoms of broken heart syndrome can mimic the signs of a typical myocardial infarction. The symptoms include fatigue, chest pain, pulmonary edema, and shortness of breath. Broken heart syndrome can exacerbate underlying medical conditions, especially in people who have existing heart conditions. The added stress can cause increase the probability of a fatal outcome.
It is not uncommon for spouses who have been married for decades to die within hours or days of one another. Researchers found that women are more susceptible to broken heart syndrome than are men. People are more susceptible to the broken heart syndrome if the death of a loved one is sudden and unexpected. People are less susceptible to the broken heart syndrome if they have close family ties, community support, and strong religious beliefs. Long illnesses also reduce the probability of the onset of the broken heart syndrome because surviving spouses have time to psychologically prepare for the grief that will follow the death of loved ones. More important, the surviving spouses have time to say goodbye to their life-long companions.
References
Biteher, M., Duran, N.E., Civen, H. A., Gunduz, S., Gunduz, T., Kaya, H., & Ozkan, M. (2009). Broken heart syndrome in a 17-year-old. European Journal of Pediatrics, 168, 1273-1275.
Griffin, S. & Logue, B. (2009). Takotsubo cardiomyopathy: A nurses’s guide. Critical Care, 29, 32-42.
Therkleson, T., & Stronach, S. (2015). Broken heart syndrome. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 33, 345-350.
Vakamudi, M. (2016). Broken-heart syndrome…Be aware…Indian Journal of Anaesthesia, 60, 155-156.
Wittstein, I, S. (2005) Neurohumoral features of myocardial stunning due to sudden emotional stress, The New England Journal of Medicine.
