The death of a loved one or pet can wreak havoc on your emotions, but it turns out that it can be dangerous for your health, too.After experiencing intense back and chest pain one morning, Texan Joanie Simpson was rushed to the emergency room and then airlifted to a nearby hospital for further medical care. Doctors thought she was experiencing a heart attack, but it turned out to be "Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy," a condition more commonly known as "broken-heart syndrome," according to The Washington Post.Joanie had a lot on her mind at the time, but she says it was the death of her beloved Yorkshire terrier, Meha, that caused the ailment. "I was close to inconsolable," she told The Washington Post. "I really took it really, really hard." Her furry friend was unwell and scheduled to be euthanized, but Joanie thought the dog was healthy enough to carry on and called it off. Sadly, Meha passed away the day after the canceled appointment.Broken-heart syndrome is a condition doctors believe to be caused by a rush of stress hormones, which are often released after a traumatic event. The flood of hormones causes the heart to spasm—making it feel like a heart attack."The kids were grown and out of the house, so she was our little girl," Joanie said of her pup. "It was such a horrendous thing to have to witness. When you're already kind of upset about other things, it's like a brick on a scale. I mean, everything just weighs on you."Joanie's diagnosis didn't surprise experts. In fact, a study recently published in the Veterinary Record found that "caregiver burden"—marked by feelings of stress, depression, and anxiety—affects pet owners caring for sick animals just as much as those caring for humans. And Joanie's experience even made it into the New England Journal of Medicine, demonstrating just how difficult it can be to lose a pet.Some even speculate that Debbie Reynolds could have experienced the condition after her daughter Carrie Fisher passed away last year, resulting in her own death. It can happen to anyone, but research shows that it tends to occur most often in postmenopausal women. Despite the tragic experience, Joanie plans to adopt another dog once she finds the right one. "It is heartbreaking. It is traumatic. It is all of the above," Simpson told the Post. "But you know what? They give so much love and companionship that I'll do it again. I will continue to have pets. That's not going to stop me."(h/t People.com)