Can Heartbreak kill you? Cardiologist explains Broken Heart Syndrome and why even winning a lottery can trigger it

Can heartbreak lead to deterioration of health? According to heart surgeons, yes, being emotionally devastated can have an impact on your physical well-being as well. In a chat with heart surgeon Dr Jigar Shah, health influencer Dr Vaishali Kukreja investigated broken heart syndrome. Dr Shah explained that broken heart syndrome is not just an urban legend but a real condition.

What Is The Broken Heart Syndrome?

This is known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. This can occur even in seemingly healthy people, with no health complications, or even in people with blocked heart arteries, who can suffer from broken heart syndrome.

What Happens To The Heart?

If you are suffering from extreme stress, it can trigger hormones such as epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol. These stress hormones can weaken the heart muscles.


The Japanese word 'takotsubo' describes a container used for catching octopuses. In an episode, the apex of the left ventricle bulges outward, whereas its base contracts in a more typical manner, resulting in a unique pot-shaped look.

: A strong emotional or physical stressor can cause a spike in stress hormones, especially adrenaline. These hormones are thought to momentarily impair the heart muscle, diminishing its capacity to contract efficiently. Signs mimic a heart attack. Individuals might encounter:-

• Abrupt chest discomfort;
• Difficulty breathing
• Heart fluttering
• Perspiration or lightheadedness
• Abnormalities in ECG, such as elevation of the ST segment. Short-term reduction in heart strength.

Sometimes it could also cause death.

According to a Cleveland Clinic report, this condition can weaken your heart muscles rapidly. Weakened heart muscles can disrupt the heart’s ability to pump blood. This harms the entire body as every cell relies on the oxygen that the blood pumped by your heart carries.

In contrast to a standard heart attack resulting from a blockage in a coronary artery, Takotsubo cardiomyopathy typically happens without an obstructive lesion in the coronary artery. Heart function frequently improves within days to weeks, though complications may occasionally be severe.

What Causes This Condition?

Dra Shah said that aside from stress from the death of a loved one, job loss, or divorce, a joyous event such as winning the lottery or pregnancy news – which causes extreme happiness – can also cause stress and damage the heart.

He said that both men and women, especially postmenopausal women, are vulnerable to this condition, but the good news is that most people also enjoy quick recoveries.

Are There Any Symptoms?

Dr Shah warned people never to ignore chest pain. Takotsubo and a heart attack have similar symptoms, and if one is experiencing chest pain, they should consult a cardiologist without delay.

According to Cleveland Clinic, here are some other symptoms

• Shortness of breath
• Fainting
• Fast or slow heart rhythms (arrhythmia)
• Heart palpitations.