The term “broken heart” is just a metaphor, right? It’s not really possible for all the emotional pain we experience after a devastating breakup or the loss of a loved one to translate into real physical damage, is it? Can a heart really be broken?
According to researchers at John Hopkins, yes. Yes it can.
There’s even a name for it: Broken Heart Syndrome (BHS). And it occurs when sudden and unexpected emotional stress triggers the body to release a slew of chemicals into the blood stream (catecholamines, their breakdown products, and small waste proteins from the nervous system) that can potentially shock the heart and cause it to stop working normally. So your heart really can break in a very real and physical way, simply as the result of emotional angst.
Doctors estimate that as many as 1-2% of all people who suffer heart attacks are really experiencing Broken Heart Syndrome, and unfortunately most of those cases are women. Symptoms of BHS are similar to those of a traditional heart attack: chest pain, radiating arm pain, and shortness of breath. Heart attacks can also present themselves in a variety of other ways with vague or seemingly unrelated symptoms, especially in women. If in doubt get it checked out — immediately!
The good news is that with prompt and appropriate medical attention BHS is treatable and usually leaves no lasting damage. Unfortunately, that bad breakup is another matter.
(Photo courtesy of kiomi on stock.xchng)
