When your heart is broken, it’s easy to assume that life is never going to be the same again. This is broken heart syndrome. How serious can it get?
When your heart is broken, nothing in your heart is right. You can’t eat, sleep, or think straight. Your mood is extremely low, and you have no hope for the future. Is this broken heart syndrome, or is there more to it?
There is a difference between feeling heartbroken and suffering from broken heart syndrome. It might sound exactly the same but the two are distinct.
Of course, you might not think that broken heart syndrome is an actual thing. Is it really possible to have a medical issue as a result of a situation in your life? [Read: The 23 facts about love *good and bad* that will blow your mind]
What is broken heart syndrome?
Broken heart syndrome is a condition triggered when someone goes through a stressful and deeply emotional time in their life. The good news is that it’s temporary. But it doesn’t mean it’s any less painful or distressing while it’s happening.
The condition is also medically known as stress cardiomyopathy, apical ballooning syndrome, or you takotsubo cardiomyopathy. They’re all basically one and the same.
These syndromes can also be brought on by other situations in life, such as being sick for a period of time or having gone through a major surgery.
Put simply, stress has a very serious effect on the mind and the body. When you’re experiencing a heartbreak of any kind, it’s bound to take its toll on you physically and emotionally. [Read: What is FOMO? How to understand it and overcome the stress it creates in life]
How does broken heart syndrome affect the body?
Broken heart syndrome is characterized by feeling low *the background behind developing the condition*, having gone through, or going through, a very stressful time but also noticing chest pain and other heart-related symptoms that occur very suddenly.
Of course, any type of chest pain needs to be checked out stat, and that’s why so many people end up in hospital as a result of broken heart syndrome. Despite their pain, they’re relieved to hear that they haven’t actually had a heart attack.
However, it’s important to know that broken heart syndrome can cause physical symptoms. The condition affects a certain section of the heart, but the rest continues to function normally. This is a good thing because it means the condition is temporary, reversible, and won’t actually cause you a lot of actual harm, despite how it feels. [Read: How to mend a broken heart and find happiness in life again]
During the onset of the condition the heart’s rhythm is disrupted, so your heartbeat pattern will change. In addition, the lower part of one particular section of your heart will become larger. This causes your heart to beat stronger *contract* in other areas. This all sounds very worrying, for sure, but again, for most people this is a reversible and temporary deal.
Many people ask why your heart hurts when you’re sad or they ask, ‘can a broken heart really hurt?’ It can hurt, yes. And it’s all down to broken heart syndrome. [Read: 32 weird, true psychological facts about love no one seems to know]
Has anyone ever died from a broken heart?
Everyone wants to know can you die from a broken heart. Well, studies estimate that around 1% of people will die from broken heart syndrome. But again, it’s not the actual heartbreak that does the damage, but the stress placed upon the heart.
There are documented cases of people dying following a severe heartbreak, be it a breakup or the death of someone extremely close to them.
For that reason, it’s important to place total focus on your health and wellbeing when you’re going through a tough time, even more than you normally would.
While rare to die of a broken heart, it’s certainly not impossible. You can lay the blame at the door of stress. [Read: How to mend from a broken heart and find happiness in life again]
What does broken heart syndrome feel like and how long does it last?
It’s worth pointing out that not every single person who is heartbroken will experience broken heart syndrome. A lot of the things you’re experiencing when you’re upset about something is stress-induced. However, when that stress is extreme, broken heart syndrome can occur.
So, what does it feel like? Remember that every single person is different, but it tends to feel a little like a panic attack but not quite as extreme. It’s a sense of pain, or heaviness, in the chest and difficulty in taking a deep breath.
For someone going through a heartbreak of sorts, broken heart syndrome often comes, and then goes. Most people overcome the issue in around two months.
However, for someone under extreme stress not only from the heartbreak but from associated elements, the stress can build up to the point where it affects heart function and could, in theory, lead to heart failure. [Read: 66 songs that’ll let you cry and help heal you]
Risk factors & triggers for broken heart syndrome
There are certain people who are more likely to develop broken heart syndrome than others. Those are the people who will no doubt be asking can you die from a broken heart. There are also specific triggers to be aware of.
You’re more likely to develop broken heart syndrome after a heartbreak if:
1. You’re female – Women are more likely to develop the condition than men
2. You’re over 50 years of age
3. You have a history of mental health issues, e.g. anxiety and depression [Read: Signs of anxiety – How to read the signs ASAP and handle them better]
However, remember that doesn’t mean all women over 50 are likely to develop broken heart syndrome! It’s simply a risk factor that slightly raises your chances.
So what about the main triggers? These include:
1. The death of a loved one
2. Recent surgery
3. Serious illness
4. Money issues [Read: How to talk about money with your partner without fighting about it]
These are all situations in life which cause stress, and as we’ve mentioned, stress is extremely bad for your health.
Signs and symptoms of broken heart syndrome
When someone is broken hearted, it doesn’t automatically mean that they’re going to develop broken heart syndrome and require treatment. However, if you’re going through a particularly emotional and stressful time, it’s a good idea to know the symptoms of broken heart syndrome so that you can reach out for help if needed.
The symptoms of the condition are not only mental and emotional, but also physical. Let’s take a look at some of the most common signs associated with the syndrome. [Read: How to find your happiness from within yourself]
1. Chest pain that comes on suddenly
Chest pain is known medically as angina. This is the most common symptom that people with broken heart syndrome experience, and usually why they reach out for help.
2. Shortness of breath
Another very common symptom of broken heart syndrome is feeling short of breath. This could be that you can’t catch your breath or that you can’t take a deep breath. You really want to/feel you need to.
Shallow breathing is another common feature. [Read: 13 avoidable habits that will change your life for the worse]
3. Blood pressure on the low side
You may not be aware of your blood pressure being low but the main symptoms are weakness, dizziness, nausea, and blurred vision.
The reduction in your blood pressure is because of the stress and pressure being placed on the heart and the fact that your heart is being affected.
4. An irregular heartbeat
Known as arrhythmia, your heartbeat pattern will change. It’s possible that you will become of aware of it. In some cases, this can often be confused with a panic attack, alongside other symptoms, such as chest pain and shortness of breath.
Because broken heart syndrome affects one particular part of the heart, it causes a stronger contraction *heartbeat* in other parts. [Read: Why does love hurt when it goes bad?]
5. Clinical weakening of a section of your heart
You won’t be aware of this, but if you go into hospital, your doctor will do tests and discover this particular sign. This is one of the most common pointers towards broken heart syndrome.
The left ventricle is often weakened *often temporarily* as a result of the extreme stress. It will show up on scans and tests. [Read: How to take care of yourself and avoid falling apart]
6. Fluid accumulating in the lungs
In some cases *usually quite severe*, someone with broken heart syndrome will have fluid backup and appear in the lungs. This sign is only noticed clinically, i.e. it’s not something you’ll be aware of yourself in how you feel.
7. Lack of appetite
This is true for the majority of people. When your heart is broken, your body shuts down and you don’t feel like eating anything or drinking much. The adrenaline running through your system makes eating seem nauseating. [Read: How to heal a broken heart the wicked way]
8. So, you don’t eat
Without an appetite, you don’t eat nearly as much as you’re supposed to. Maybe you can stomach an apple for the day or a piece of toast. The trouble with this is pretty obvious.
We need food to survive. Without it, our body starts shutting down and using less and less energy as a means to save itself. This results in barely mobile people who don’t do anything at all.
9. Or, you eat too much
On the flip side, some people eat for comfort. Downing all of your favorite junk feels like a way to fill the void that is now present in your body.
This, however, is almost as bad as not eating anything. You’ll gain a significant amount of weight, and that’s never healthy. [Read: Sense of self – 26 steps to raise it and feel like a million bucks]
10. Sleep issues
Nightmares may consume your sleep – especially if you’re already a heavy dreamer. They become vivid, sharp, and even more terrifying with the added stress and emotional trauma of a broken heart.
So, you don’t sleep, and this will obviously affect your day to day life. [Read: 10 signs you’re lovesick and 10 ways to get out of it]
11. You don’t find joy in the things you used to love
The one thing you used to love may not bring you joy anymore. So, you stop doing it. This can make you struggle to smile or laugh because you just don’t find happiness in the things you once did.
12. Anxiety shoots through the roof
Your body goes on high alert. It’s as if you’re in a foreign place with unknown people, even if you’re at home with family. This makes you nervous, skittish, and highly emotional.
13. Depression may set in
In many cases, people can go into a deep depression when they’re heartbroken. We all know just how terrible depression can be for your mind and body.
Without proper assistance, this can spiral out of control in the worst way. [Read: How to stop holding onto a relationship that’s over]
14. Stress hormones rise and stay at high levels
And they stay elevated for a long time after. These hormones can cause you to gain weight, lose weight, lose sleep, break out, have trouble with digestion, and so many other things that affect you physically.
15. You isolate yourself
Have you ever heard that the more friends you have, the longer you’ll live? Basically, human contact is something we NEED in order to survive.
When your heart is broken, you never feel like being with anybody. Your solitude becomes your norm and this is TERRIBLE for you. [Read: The three stages to embrace and overcome loneliness]
16. You may feel physical pain
The mind is such a powerful organ that it can FAKE pain when you’re in emotional pain. Basically, when you’re heartbroken, your brain mimics that emotional pain in physical form, and you can actually feel pain in your joints and different parts of your body.
17. Hair loss
Due to the stress hormones surging through your body, it’s not uncommon for people to lose some hair when they’re going through a breakup.
It may not be really obvious to others, but you’ll start pulling out more and more hair while washing it in the shower. [Read: I just want to be loved – Unlikely reasons why you’re feeling this way]
18. Difficulty concentrating
Your mind is going to be preoccupied almost always with the thoughts of the heartbreak. You’ll be overwhelmed with sadness, and you won’t be able to think straight and do things you normally did.
Work can become difficult. Chores becomes daunting. You may even find that making a pot of coffee becomes a really difficult task mentally when you have a broken heart.
19. Hope becomes a foreign emotion
When it feels like your heart is torn in a million pieces, hope doesn’t seem to exist. You lose sight of the light at the end of the tunnel, and this makes you lose your will to keep going.
This can be very dangerous to a lot of people who also suffer from depression and anxiety. [Read: Feeling hopeless – how to stop feeling overwhelmed and see hope again]
When to see a doctor
Broken heart syndrome is actually quite a medical *and worrying* deal when you break it down and look at how it can affect you physically. Can you die from a broken heart? We now know it’s rare, but yes, you can.
We focus so much on the emotional and mental pain of a heartbreak but when stress accumulates, it manifests in physical ways. Ways which can often put a huge amount of pressure on vital organs.
Heart health is something we all need to be super-aware of. If you are struggling with an emotional and stressful situation currently and you notice any of the symptoms above, seek out help immediately.
It goes without saying that if you’re experiencing any kind of chest pain, you should seek urgent medical attention. [Read: Breakup anxiety – How to deal with it and overcome your biggest fears]
So, can you die from a broken heart?
The truth is that if you let your broken heart consume you and take over your life, any prolonged presence of the above conditions can definitely lead you down a path that’s straight toward an early death.
[Read: How to find the right person for you when you’ve given up hope]
Broken heart syndrome is a real thing. Can you die from a broken heart? While it’s rare, the pain is real in both an emotional and physical way.
