Did you know? Trouble in love can stress the heart

We’ve all experienced it at some point—your heart’s racing, you can’t sleep, and life seems to stand still. But what’s actually going on in our bodies when we’re feeling lovesick? And what impact does that have on our heart—on the physical organ, that is?

Intense emotional stress of the kind we experience when we’re having romantic troubles causes the body to release stress hormones such as adrenalin and cortisol. These hormones stress the cardiovascular system by elevating our heart rate and blood pressure. In extreme cases it can even lead to what is known as “broken-heart syndrome” (takotsubo cardiomyopathy)—a temporary episode of heart-muscle dysfunction causing symptoms such as chest pain and difficulty breathing.

Broken-heart syndrome is often mistaken for a heart attack, because the symptoms are similar. Tests such as a coronary angiogram, however, provide no evidence of vasoconstriction. The cause instead is found to be sudden hyperactivation of the sympathetic nervous system and the release of stress hormones.

So if one day you find yourself suffering from “heartache”, just remember: it may simply be broken-heart syndrome rather than a medical emergency. Who knows? It might even feel just as unpleasant as the moment you accidentally encounter your ex in town. But this too shall pass!

References:

1. Templin, C., Ghadri, J.-R., Napp, L. C., et al. (2015). "Takotsubo syndrome: a pathophysiological review." Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 66(7), 758-766.
2. Wittstein, I. S., Thiemann, D. R., Lima, J. A. C., et al. (2005). "Neurohumoral features of myocardial stunning due to sudden emotional stress." New England Journal of Medicine, 352(6), 539-548.
3. Lyon, A. R., & Bossone, E. (2020). "Takotsubo syndrome: Pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment." European Heart Journal, 41(14), 1347-1356.