Proof at last, you can die of a broken heart By Lucy Cockcroft
It is possible to die from a broken heart, according to a study which showed that the risk of death increases by up to a fifth in the months after the loss of a loved one.
The review of recent research on bereavement found that the psychological distress it causes spouses can greatly increase their chances of dying soon afterwards.
The report, published in the latest edition of The Lancet medical journal, cites a study that found men are 21 per cent more likely to die after the loss of their wife, while widows have a 17 per cent increased risk.
The bereaved are also more likely to have a range of medical problems and suffer from mental illness including depression, despair, loss of appetite, and fatigue.
For widowers in particular, the deterioration in health is usually associated with increased alcohol consumption and stress associated with losing their sole confidante, who would have also overseen their well-being.
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