Heartbreaking End to Penn State Legacy, Joe Paterno dies at 85.

Joe Paterno, former Penn State football head coach died January 22, 2013 at age 85 following lung cancer diagnosis several months earlier.

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Paterno had coached at Penn State for 46 years and had a 61 year history with the university. Paterno, affectionately reffered to as 'JoePa', was greatly admired by the students and community. The final chapter in his Penn State Legacy was riddled with scandal. The Penn State sex scandal caused Paterno to lose his job in November 2011, two months before his death.

Supporters of Paterno suggest he died of a broken heart, Time Magazine reports. Former players Keith Dorney, Matt Millen, and Al Golden believe so.  Dorney told the the press: "Matt Millen said it best: 'Joe died of a broken heart.' ...I believe his demis was exacerbated by this terrible...scandal."

While Paterno died of a complication with his lung cancer treatment, medical experts agree that it is possible to die from a broken heart. Dr. Richard Besser explains to ABC news that "broken heart syndrom" is a condition when stress or emotional trauma causes heart failure.

Smart Women News - Mysteries of the Heart 

Most cases of Broken Heart Sydrom are treatable. However, The New York Times reports there has been a connection made between stress and cancer survival. Stress has been known to complicate a number of illnesses, and the human immune system. It's not too unrealistic to think Joe Paterno died of a broken heart. 

Facebook Post - Joe Paterno dies at 85, after a complicating with lung cancer treatment. But could it be due to the stress of the Penn State Sex Scandal? Can a broken heart, or stress kill you?



For more information
NY Times Stress and Anxiety
ABC News - Yes, You Can Die From a Broken Heart
ESPN Joe Paterno
Did Joe Paterno Die of a Broken Heart