Q: Can you die from a 'broken heart' when someone you love dies?

A: Yes, your risk of heart attack increases when someone you love dies.

We've all heard stories of elderly couples dying within weeks of each other. Family members often attribute the second death to that person's intense grief at the loss of their loved one, and say they died of a broken heart. But can you really die from a broken heart?

Bereavement is considered the most intense stress a person can experience and it increases your risk of a heart attack, says Dr Thomas Buckley, a researcher and lecturer at the University of Sydney.
 
Buckley says research over the last 50 years has shown when someone very close to you dies – especially if it's your partner or child – you're at a…