One day this winter, Bill, 76, a retired engineer, hit a patch of ice while walking to the local grocery store, fell, and broke his hip. Three days later, he died. His wife, Margaret, 60, who had been married to Bill for 35 years, was devastated. Her sorrow consumed her and she became gradually more withdrawn and more depressed. Within a few days, Margaret succumbed to the emotional torment, and died in hospital of what her cardiologist called the Broken Heart Syndrome.

The broken heart syndrome, also called takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) or stress-induced cardiomyopathy, was first described in 1990 in Japan. The condition is usually the result of severe emotional or physical stress, such as a sudden illness, the loss of a loved one, a serious accident, or a natural disaster, such as an earthquake. Symptoms may include severe chest pain, cold sweats, lightheadedness, marked fatigue, and shortness of breath resembling a heart attack. Research suggests that up to 5% of women suspected of having a heart attack actually have this disorder.

TTC predominantly occurs in post-menopausal women. People who have or had anxiety or depression are at a higher risk to develop TTC. Most people who have broken heart syndrome quickly recover and don't have long-lasting effects. But sometimes the condition occurs again. Rarely, broken heart syndrome can cause death.

The incidence and prevalence of TTC seems on the........

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