Women more likely to suffer from broken heart syndrome.

[ohiosmith]

Females are seven to nine times more likely to suffer "broken heart syndrome," when sudden or prolonged stress like an emotional breakup or death causes overwhelming heart failure or heart attack-like symptoms, the first nationwide study of this finds. Usually patients recover with no lasting damage.

The classic case is "a woman who has just lost her husband," said Dr. Mariell Jessup, a University of Pennsylvania heart failure specialist who has treated many such cases.

Cyndy Bizon feared that was happening when her husband, Joel, suffered a massive heart attack in 2005. "May God work through your hands," the Maine woman told the surgeon as her husband was wheeled past her into the operating room. She later collapsed at a nurse's station from "broken heart syndrome" and wound up in coronary care with him. Both survived.

Japanese doctors first recognized this syndrome around 1990 and named it Takotsubo cardiomyopathy; tako tsubo are octopus traps that resemble the unusual pot-like shape of the stricken heart.

Link: http://www.ajc.com/health/women-more-likely-to-1228592.html

[HopeHoops]

1. Have you ever seen "Made In America" (Goldberg and Danson)

He plays sort of an asshole for most of the movie but there's a great scene where his ditz-bo girlfriend is leaving him and keeps coming back in to add something else (including waving her pink teddy up the stairs while saying "I want you to remember the good times. The way things were"). When he finally gets rid of her, he does a face palm and says, "Oh, GOD!"

She gets in the open top Jeep with an equally shallow guy and says, "It's going to take him a long time to get over this. I'm talking about years."

The guy's response is "poor dude."

I read the article earlier (another source) and do take issue with it. Females tend to be more dramatic about it, but I had two girlfriends leave me and it was really me that was the dramatic one. Other guys I know have experienced the same thing. Fortunately, I found a keeper in '84. Life's good now.

[grilled onions]

2. For So Many Reasons Why

They are so sensitive,sentimental and many have learned to rely/depend on their spouse/partner. But there is also the fear factor.They are told that the odds are in their favor that they will live longer however for many costs will increase as income goes down. For many income is slashed almost in half. Utilities,medical expenses do not become cheaper. A widow can literally age overnight. I have known widows who stop eating,sleeping and worry constantly. That is not good for the human body. Woman often cannot care for home repairs in the same way that men can. If she does not have offspring to help she either has to shell out a lot of money for repairs or make do with what she has. While she handle the kitchen and laundry needs better then a lot of men their financial situation and ability to fend for themselves tends to allow them to be more independent. This is not saying that many men will not hurt as much when their spouse/partner dies but knowing they can handle daily problems a little better gives them a bit more of piece of mind.

[HopeHoops]

3. The same is true for men. My wife is the strong one.

I don't mean physically, but she's pretty damn strong for her size (95 lbs, under 4'11" and a 3rd degree black belt). But in general, I think men are simply expected to be strong and not show emotions. That's just cultural but it is changing with time. Women were expected to be subservient and everything emotional was "she's on the rag". While there's some truth in that for many women and more in others, that isn't "equality". We've made progress on both fronts but there's a lot more to be made.