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Can you die of a broken heart?
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is an unusual condition in which heart function is compromised by severe physical or emotional stress (such as the loss of a loved one). More than 80 percent of reported cases occur in women older than 50. The symptoms are similar to those of a heart attack, but while takotsubo cardiomyopathy can be fatal, most sufferers recover quickly.

Mehmet Oz, MD, is the host of The Dr. Oz Show (weekdays; check local listings).

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