Halloween Reminder: You Really Can Be Scared to Death

We've all said it.  "I was scared to death." But is that even possible? Can you really die of fright?

Absolutely, science says!

According to LiveScience.com, when people are overwhelmed with fear, their fight-or-flight response jumps into action. That triggers the autonomic nervous system to release a surge of adrenaline in our bodies. That causes calcium to pour into heart cells, creating a rapid heart rate, dilated pupils and increased blood flow to the muscles.

You are now ready to fight or flee (I'm good with flee) but this chemical turbocharging response can also damage the heart. That’s because “in a massive response, the calcium keeps on pouring in, and the heart muscles can't relax."

All this stress on the heart can cause a type of heart arrhythmia called ventricular fibrillation. That’s when an uncoordinated contraction of the heart that makes it quiver, not beat. That can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure and passing out … or worse.

And it can happen to anybody. If the flight-or-fight response is massive enough, “even in normal and healthy people" can be scared to death LiveScience.com says.

Now you know, so don't go overboard when you set out to scare the neighbor or your pal!