Can Grief Cause a Heart Attack?

Can Grief Cause a Heart Attack? (0:41)

Emotional trauma can cause severe pain. But can grief actually cause a heart attack? In this video, Dr. Robin Miller explains the circumstances that can turn an emotional blow into a physical problem.

Read Transcript

What is the effect of grief on the heart? Well a recent study found that the day a loved one dies the risk of heart attack is 21 times higher, the following month it's six times higher and it's important that friends and care givers of the begrieved keep a close eye on their symptoms and their health.

So by heart attack are you talking about broken heart syndrome? No this is true heart attack with it's actual damage broken heart syndrome looks like a heart attack and actually patients have to be hospitalized it's like taking a stand gun to the heart with all the hormones that come out when you are grieving, but their is no damage from broken heart syndrome where there is from heart attack.

Good information there, thank you.