Image via WikipediaDying of a broken heart- the widowhood factor...Did you know that you can really die of a broken heart?
Researchers at St Andrews University have studied what is called the 'widowhood effect'. In particular men are likely to have their lives cut short by the death of their wives.
The research examined more than 58,000 married couples. Their findings suggest that 40% of men and 26% of women die within 3 years of their partners death.
The study took into account a wide range of causes of death: including cancers, other diseases, alcohol abuse, smoking, accidents, murders and suicides.
Even taking these other factors into account, many widowers and widows die through the loss of their spouse. The findings will appear in the scientific journal Epidemology early in 2011.
