Can You Really Die of a Broken Heart? The Hidden Dangers of Grief, with Mary Frances O'Connor
Big Brains3 Apr 2025

Can You Really Die of a Broken Heart? The Hidden Dangers of Grief, with Mary Frances O'Connor

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, and even autoimmune disorders.

Drawing on her personal experiences and extensive research, O’Connor outlines why our medical system—and society at large—needs to rethink how we support grieving individuals. She makes a powerful case for viewing grief not only as an emotional experience but as a medical event deserving careful monitoring and intervention, similar to pregnancy or chronic illness.


Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Avsnitt(216)

Could AI Models Forecast Extreme Weather Events? with Pedram Hassanzadeh

Could AI Models Forecast Extreme Weather Events? with Pedram Hassanzadeh

What if we could predict the world’s most dangerous weather events—not days, but weeks in advance? Extreme events like heat waves, hurricanes, and floods cause massive loss of life and billions in dam...

2 Apr 35min

Are Judges Too Powerful? The Rise of Universal Injunctions, with Samuel Bray

Are Judges Too Powerful? The Rise of Universal Injunctions, with Samuel Bray

In recent years, a judge in one state had gained the power to halt policies across the entire United States. Known as nationwide or universal injunctions, these actions have become one of the sweeping...

19 Mars 40min

Could Data Centers Break Our Power Grid? with Andrew Chien

Could Data Centers Break Our Power Grid? with Andrew Chien

Artificial intelligence may live in “the cloud,” but its footprint is firmly on the ground. As AI systems grow more powerful, the data centers that train and run them are consuming massive amounts of ...

6 Mars 37min

Remarkable New Treatments for Spinal Cord Injuries, with Mohamad Bydon

Remarkable New Treatments for Spinal Cord Injuries, with Mohamad Bydon

When a two-year-old boy suffered a catastrophic injury that severed the connection between his skull and spine, doctors across Europe told his family there was no hope. His spinal cord was completely ...

19 Feb 26min

Can You Improve Your Working Memory and Attention? with Edward Awh

Can You Improve Your Working Memory and Attention? with Edward Awh

In today’s world, our brains are overloaded with information, making it hard to focus and remember. But what are the true limits of the human mind—and why do they exist? And why are some people seem s...

5 Feb 35min

Why Knowing Your True Self Is So Difficult, with Eric Oliver

Why Knowing Your True Self Is So Difficult, with Eric Oliver

The process of understanding who we are is a lifelong journey for many of us. For two decades, that question has been one that University of Chicago scholar Eric Oliver has asked his students in class...

22 Jan 31min

The Breakthrough Quantum Sensor That Sees Inside Your Cells, with Peter Maurer

The Breakthrough Quantum Sensor That Sees Inside Your Cells, with Peter Maurer

What if we could precisely measure a cell at its most fundamental level? In this episode, we talk with the University of Chicago scientist Peter Maurer about how he and his colleagues made the breakth...

8 Jan 35min

How to Manifest Your Destiny with the Late James Doty

How to Manifest Your Destiny with the Late James Doty

We've all heard the phrase "Manifest Your Destiny" when it comes to wanting a new promotion, figuring out a new career path or just trying to achieve that long-term goal. It turns out that the act of ...

29 Dec 202531min

Populärt inom Utbildning

historiepodden-se
rss-bara-en-till-om-missbruk-medberoende-2
det-skaver
alska-oss
harrisons-dramatiska-historia
nu-blir-det-historia
not-fanny-anymore
johannes-hansen-podcast
rss-viktmedicinpodden
rss-foraldramotet-bring-lagercrantz
roda-vita-rosen
sektledare
allt-du-velat-veta
sa-in-i-sjalen
i-vantan-pa-katastrofen
rss-sjalsligt-avkladd
rss-max-tant-med-max-villman
rss-pa-insidan-med-bjorn-rudman
sex-pa-riktigt-med-marika-smith
rss-basta-livet