Takotsubo syndrome

Takotsubo syndrome is when somebody literally dies of a broken heart. With the acute distress of losing someone, the body produces a enormous amount of catchecholamines (adrenaline), which leads to a dilated cardiomyopathy (a dilated floppy heart) and hence you die. This female spider (at left) lived on our porch for many years but was found dead this morning with her (presumed) male partner. Did he die of a broken heart.....?? Or was he just one of the many male companions she had over the years. I do remember that spiders sometimes eat their mates but I prefer to think he died of Takotsubo syndrome.