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Podcast: Big Brains
Episode: Can You Really Die of a Broken Heart? The Hidden Dangers of Grief, with Mary Frances O'Connor
Description: When we lose someone, we love, we often say we have a broken heart—but what if that’s not just a metaphor?In her new book “The Grieving Body: How The Stress of Loss Can Be An Opportunity For Healing” University of Arizona Professor of Psychology Mary Frances O’Connor shares groundbreaking insights into the biological and physiological impacts grief has on our bodies. O’Connor reveals how profound loss can lead to serious medical conditions, from heart attacks to immune system breakdowns, and explains why grieving can make us more vulnerable to diseases like cancer, pneumonia, a...