Food for Thought: Broken Heart Syndrome

When a person dies within a short period of time after his or her spouse or other loved one has died, we will often hear someone say, “She or he died of a broken heart.” Now, medical researchers have found a way to actually measure the effects. They are able to measure how under extreme stress the heart actually changes shape as the left ventricle weakens, causing parts of it to balloon out. Symptoms can mimic a heart attack. The American Heart Association (AHA) says that an electrocardiogram can show a distinct difference. In broken heart syndrome, symptoms occur suddenly after extreme emotional or physical trauma. Most patients survive under a doctor’s care. The AHA recommends testing for those who feel sharp pains while dealing with emotional distress or depression. When the actress Debby Reynolds died one day after her daughter Carrie Fisher, many suspected that it was from broken heart syndrome. AARP Bulletin, February 2019, p.3

This may explain the “ache in the chest” most of us experience after a loved one dies. It is not just in our imagination. It is a real heartache that can be scientifically explained. How we deal with stress of any kind can determine how much damage is done to our health. We can’t just say to someone, “Buck up and deal with it,” and they will magically feel better. We can, however, sometimes help the person recover more quickly. We can help them see that God is a haven of grace and hope. Turning one’s grief over to Him can soothe a broken heart.

Matthew 11:28-30 tells us, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened; and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

After my husband died, I wrote several poems. Following are a couple of stanzas from one of them: “There are moments in every lifetime when/ No amount of deep breathing can pull in/ Enough air to expel the ache in the chest./ Then suddenly you realize that the escape route/ Is paved with the voices of family and friends,/ New interests, fine food and good music,/ And the black-sleeved arm of sadness starts lifting/ And the dance toward the light can begin.” “Dancing Toward the Light” from, AFTER ALL THESES YEARS, Ardith Hoff p.55