Health & Healthcare | By July 18, 2007 | By Sudip Ghosh, MDcloseSudip Ghosh, MD Name: Sudip Ghosh
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About: Dr. Ghosh is a surgeon at the University of Manchester, UK and a medical writer. | 2 Comments

Death from Broken Hearts and Octopus Traps

It is now established beyond any doubt that women in particular can die of a broken heart. The good news is that if you can make it to hospital, your chances of survival are pretty high.

First described in 2005 in Japan, the Tako-tsubo syndrome (or the “broken heart syndrome”) is being increasingly reported in world literature, although it must have been happening all the time. In 80% of cases, it reportedly occurs in post-menopausal women above 60 years of age after an episode of stress or occasionally related to anger. Death of a close relative is the most common situation. Read more →