Probably, the expression "to die of fear" is familiar to everyone, without exception. But we usually perceive it as figurative. But can fear literally cause death? Let's figure it out.
What happens to our body during fear?
Fear, like any human emotion, has a connection with certain physiological processes. When frightened in the body, a reaction begins, which experts call: "fight or flight." It is conditioned by the processes of evolution. In the primitive era, people were always on the alert, as there were high chances of meeting a dangerous person or a wild beast. At the signal of danger, adrenaline spilled into the blood, and this helped our distant ancestors to repel an attack or to avoid danger.
Professor of Weber University (USA) Bill Robertson describes it this way: a person has an aggravation of all senses, muscles tighten, the depth of breathing increases, which allows the body to receive more oxygen. In this case, some vital functions, such as, for example, the digestion process, may stop for a while. That is, the body in such a situation mobilizes all the necessary reserves, but blocks what is irrelevant for it.
According to Robertson's colleague, clinical psychologist Theresa Kay, the hypothalamus controls the entire process. Reacting to a possible threat, he sends a signal to the pituitary gland, which, in turn, gives the adrenal glands a "command" to release adrenaline. It is thanks to him that our heart begins to beat faster, the pupils dilate and the blood flow to the muscles increases.
Why is adrenaline dangerous?
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However, adrenaline not only helps us to pull ourselves together in the face of danger: it can seriously damage the heart. Its release is associated with the opening of calcium channels. “Calcium gets into the cells of the heart, which causes the heart muscle to contract harder,” says resuscitator Robert Glatter from New York. -
In fact, calcium continues to flow and the heart muscle cannot relax."
According to Glatter, with severe fright, too much adrenaline can splash into the bloodstream and this can lead to arrhythmias, a drop in blood pressure, loss of consciousness and, finally, death. Moreover, this can theoretically happen even with a person who does not suffer from cardiovascular ailments.
Real deaths from fear
As for the causes of fear, it may not only be a real threat of danger. Such a reaction can be caused, say, by a very loud sound or a disgusting smell.
In 1977, a burning plane fell out of control in the District of Columbia (USA). Everyone on board the ship died, and the house on which it fell was destroyed. True, its inhabitants managed to run out into the street in time. But the woman who lived in the house across the street was found dead on her porch. Later it was established that, apparently, she watched the plane crash and saw a path of burning fuel flowing towards her house … But although it eventually did not reach her house, the woman died of fear.
By the way, if you scared someone to death, you could be tried for manslaughter, even if you didn't do it on purpose. In May 2015, in the United States, the owners of a truck driving at night without marker lights were sentenced to a $ 300,000 fine. The fact is that an 85-year-old passenger car driver who was driving towards him noticed a truck too late, and his heart could not stand it. As a result, the car lost control and crashed into a truck. This was proved by the lawyers who were hired by the relatives of the deceased old man.
Daria Lyubimskaya