What becomes of the brokenhearted...

A study published just in time for Valentine’s Day, reports how the loss of a love, intense grieving, or similar emotional trauma can cause classic heart attack-like symptoms, including chest pain and shortness of breath; doctors have dubbed it the "broken heart syndrome". This might seem like a little bit of "duh!"; for centuries, poets and philosophers have written of this phenomena and common wisdom has been that emotional shocks can trigger heart attacks and sudden deaths. However, the study also shows that for some unknown reason, postmenopausal women seem to be more prone to this syndrome. The good news is that study will lead more ER and heart doctors to consider the syndrome when examining patients with chest pain, especially those who are grieving. -- Linda Glenn