Was it a broken heart that landed George H.W. Bush, the 41st president, in the hospital just a day after the funeral of his wife, Barbara?

The Bushes were married for 73 years — they were allies, confidantes and the anchors of a political dynasty. On Tuesday, speculation swirled that Mrs. Bush’s death must have sent him into a downward medical spiral.

Failing health that accompanies grieving, especially the loss of a spouse, has been reported by some medical researchers. But if the link exists at all — and many experts believe it doesn’t — it seems to be quite rare.

The idea “appeals to our romanticism,” said Donald Berry, a statistician at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.