If you have ever heard the figure of speech," I was scared to death!", then you probably may have thought if that is actually physically possible. Believe it or not, being scared to death is a real thing and not necessarily uncommon.
Animals also are susceptible to being scared to death. Wild birds and other small mammals can die of shock from being captured, and while you probably would like that you are tougher than a little sparrow, you really aren't. Any perfectly fit human is potentially one scare away from dying.
A neurological hospital in Boston has recorded hundreds of many different cases of people dying from fright. These range from small children on intense roller coasters, being mugged, and non fatal car accidents. These deaths are correlated with heart attacks, this fear induced heart failure is called Stress Cardiomyopathy. This happens when you are in a potentially life threatening situation or in this case a scary one. Your brain kicks in and alerts you of danger, your handy flight or fight response. Your brain tells your adrenal glands which are on top of your kidneys to release adrenaline.
A huge wave of adrenaline zooms through your body give your muscles extra energy and warming them up for you to spring in or out of action. However, adrenaline contracts your muscles and in times of extreme fright, your adrenaline glands will keep pumping adrenaline and your muscles won't be able to relax. Your heart, which is a muscle, will go into a funky breathing rhythm which will cause the heart attack. This weird heart rhythm is called ventricular fibrillation. So think again when you are going to scare your grandparents.
