Yes. Notably (and unfortunately), this happened in 2008, when a fleeing bank robber broke into a 79-year-old woman’s house to hide from police. The woman died of a heart attack, and the robber was given a life sentence for causing her death.While every cardiac event is different, here’s some information about what fear does to your heart: When you feel you’re in danger, your brain orders a surge of adrenaline to course through your body—this triggers your fight-or-flight response, which, among other things, raises your heart rate. The intent is to pump blood to your muscles and other vital organs, preparing you for battle or escape, but in extreme circumstances and risk-prone hearts, this can cause a heart attack.That’s horrifying, but death by fear is rare. Hereâ€Â