Can Stress Cause a Stroke? You bet!

If you've had a stroke you have ~35% chance of another stroke. Finally proof: Stress can cause a stroke. 
(Stress= ↑ Blood Clotting = Stroke)

Debbie Reynolds died recently just one day after her daughter, Carrie Fisher died. The press says she died of a "broken heart." And that is probably true. There is now science that shows that stress can cause stroke and other cardio vascular diseases. 
(The Lancet abstract to this research here. Non-nerd take here.)

But the connection between stroke and stress is indirect. Here's the story:

The amygdalae (plural; there are 2 of them. Singular: amygdala) are small marble sized structures responsible for emotions.

In folks who have cardiovascular disease (like stroke) there is more activity in the amygdala.

This increased activity causes more C-reactive protein in the blood. C-reactive protein— you guessed it— clots blood. 

Blood clot in the brain = stroke.