Debbie Reynolds' Death: Can You Die of a Broken Heart?

Debbie Reynolds (proper) along with her daughter, Carrie Fisher, in North Hollywood, California in 2014.

Credit score: Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com

Actress Debbie Reynolds died from a stroke on Dec. 28, simply sooner or later after her daughter, actress Carrie Fisher, died from a coronary heart assault, Selection reported. Reynolds, who starred in movie classics akin to "Singin' within the Rain," was 84.

Reynolds instructed her son shortly earlier than her stroke, "I miss her a lot. I need to be with Carrie," reported TMZ.

Did the demise of her daughter probably play a task in Reynolds' personal demise? In different phrases, can an individual die of a damaged coronary heart? [Heart of the Matter: 7 Things to Know About Your Ticker]

Certainly, damaged coronary heart syndrome "is actual and it exists," stated Dr. Scott Krakower, the assistant unit chief of psychiatry at Zucker Hillside Hospital in New Hyde Park, New York. Krakower didn't deal with Reynolds.

The situation, which additionally goes by the names stress-induced cardiomyopathy and takotsubo cardiomyopathy, can occur in individuals who have by no means had coronary heart illness, in keeping with the American Coronary heart Affiliation (AHA).

Damaged coronary heart syndrome can occur in response to any acute main stressors in somebody's life, Krakower instructed Reside Science. This may embody the demise of a big different or a beloved one, but in addition scary conditions such a home dispute or a bodily altercation, he stated.

The syndrome happens when part of the center turns into briefly enlarged and can't pump nicely, whereas the remainder of the center continues to operate usually, or works even tougher, the AHA stated.

(The title "takotsubo cardiomyopathy" comes from the odd form of the center throughout this situation; in its enlarged state, the center resembles a tako-tsubo, a fishing pot used to entice octopuses.)

Because of damaged coronary heart syndrome, an individual could develop an irregular heartbeat, or the center could develop into too weak to pump sufficient blood all through the physique, which may result in demise, the AHA stated.

The signs of damaged coronary heart syndrome, akin to chest ache and shortness of breath, are just like these of a coronary heart assault, the AHA stated. A serious distinction between the 2, nevertheless, is that in damaged coronary heart syndrome, an individual is not going to have blocked arteries or coronary heart injury, the AHA stated.

The precise reason behind damaged coronary heart syndrome is unclear; nevertheless, scientists have proposed a number of hypothetical mechanisms, together with extreme ranges of stress hormones and spasms of an artery, Krakower stated.

What about stroke?

Reynolds had skilled not less than one earlier stroke, USA Right this moment reported.

A 2014 research, revealed within the journal JAMA Inside Drugs, discovered that the demise of a partner can enhance an individual's threat for a coronary heart assault or a stroke within the following month. The researchers discovered that older adults who had misplaced their companions have been about twice as prone to have a coronary heart assault or stroke within the 30 days following their associate's demise in contrast with individuals who had not misplaced a partner.

The researchers discovered that the hyperlink held even after they accounted for threat components for coronary heart assault or stroke, together with age, coronary heart illness and hypertension.

Krakower famous that it is unclear how usually strokes happen on account of damaged coronary heart syndrome, however that there are a number of instances reported within the literature.

Nevertheless, an individual is extra prone to have a coronary heart assault or stroke within the interval after the demise of somebody near her or him, whether or not particularly associated to damaged coronary heart syndrome or not, he added.

The underside line is that it is necessary for somebody who has misplaced a beloved one to have the ability to grieve correctly and to specific what she or he is feeling outwardly, slightly than internalizing these emotions, Krakower stated. And if individuals really feel any bodily signs after shedding somebody, they need to go to their medical doctors, he stated. 

Initially revealed on Reside Science.

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