The 'Broken Heart' Phenomenon Is Easily Explained By Science

The metaphor of a broken heart is persistent in our culture, and it often refers to the experience of a sudden loss or another significant emotional or physical event. A "broken heart" can be much more than a figure of speech, though. Some people really do experience a condition often called broken heart syndrome after experiencing sudden stress, and it causes the heart to weaken for a short period of time. If you've ever wondered about the science behind this common phrase, it turns out that a broken heart points to a very real human heart condition called stress-induced cardiomyopathy.

In general, cardiomyopathy itself is an umbrella term that includes several types of related conditions that weaken the heart muscle and interrupt healthy blood flow. Depending on the type of cardiomyopathy, such heart issues can progressively worsen over time, and they might even be hereditary. Such issues are not the case with stress-induced cardiomyopathy, though. As the name suggests, this type of cardiomyopathy is triggered by cases of significant stress. Due to its common association with severe emotional stress, stress-induced cardiomyopathy goes by the nickname of "broken heart syndrome."

Also known as apical ballooning cardiomyopathy, Gebrochenes-Herz syndrome, or Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, it's thought that this condition is caused by an influx of adrenaline and other stress hormones in response to significant emotional or physical stress. While broken heart syndrome doesn't usually cause any permanent damage, the symptoms can nevertheless be concerning, and treatment may still be required to help achieve a full recovery.

While many of the emotional stressors associated with broken heart syndrome can be negative, such as a breakup, natural disaster, or losing your job, it's also possible to develop this condition in response to a sudden surprise such as unexpected good news. Examples of sudden physical stress triggers can include accidents, breathing difficulties, a stroke (which might be linked to a particular blood type), or even a high fever related to an illness. However, Johns Hopkins Medicine also estimates that about 30% of people who experience broken heart syndrome cannot pinpoint an obvious cause. Regardless of the exact trigger, the sudden rush of related hormones can temporarily narrow the heart's arteries and subsequently decrease normal blood flow. Another way adrenaline can impact the heart is by providing heart cells with too much calcium at once, which can then lead to abnormal beating.

The most common symptoms of broken heart syndrome are similar to that of a heart attack, including sudden chest pain and shortness of breath. Dizziness and sweating are also common. Some people might also experience heart palpitations or arrythmias, and even fainting. Typically, the symptoms of broken heart syndrome develop within minutes or hours of the emotionally stressful event that caused them. Due to these symptoms, many people go to the emergency room for a suspected heart attack. Unlike a heart attack though, broken heart syndrome isn't caused by blocked arteries.

Broken heart syndrome is also most common in women, and even more so after menopause due to natural decreases in heart-protective estrogen hormones. It's also more prevalent in people with certain neurological conditions, like a history of stroke, as well as anxiety and depression. Yet it's possible for anyone to experience a "broken heart," including adults who do not have any underlying medical conditions.

Despite its moniker, broken heart syndrome is highly treatable and reversible in most cases. A doctor can help diagnose this condition with the help of blood tests and imaging tools, such as an MRI or x-ray. To confirm broken heart syndrome, such imaging tests will likely show changes in the left ventricle of the heart. You might also need to undergo a coronary angiography to rule out the possibility of a heart attack.

Once diagnosed with a "broken heart," a doctor will recommend medications to help you recover. There's no single treatment modality for broken heart syndrome, but some of the most common drugs are those that can help lower your blood pressure or heart rate, as appropriate. Examples include beta blockers (these widely used medications are even sometimes prescribed for anxiety) and ACE inhibitors. While there's no scientifically proven way to prevent a broken heart entirely, regular stress management techniques could offer some protection on this end. Interestingly, there are also some variations in prognosis depending on the triggers. Johns Hopkins Medicine notes that while only about 5% of people who experience broken heart syndrome have multiple episodes, emotional triggers of the condition are easier to recover from than physical stressors.

There's also the infamous phrase of "dying of a broken heart." While it's possible that extreme cases of stress-induced cardiomyopathy can be fatal, this is actually quite rare. In such cases though, it's possible to experience life-threatening complications such as heart failure. Most people will go on to fully recover from a broken heart within a few weeks.