The Science of a Broken Heart: More Than Just a Metaphor
A decade after my world turned upside down, I revisit the moment my heart broke—not just emotionally, but physically too – and it's actually fascinating science.
It's a bit more than ten years since I was returned. Like a washing machine, used for almost four years, and then out of the blue, boom: here is your ticket back to single land.
The cruel part was: I really didn't see it coming. And on top of the bitter surprise, any attempt I made to speak about it was blocked. I was ghosted, as the kids say these days.
So there I was, in my early 30s, experiencing my first-ever heartbreak. Late, right? Well, maybe it would have been easier if I'd had a light version of wallowing over ice cream when I was 16. But no, it hit me like a tsunami, I didn't know what was happening to me.
I mean, I knew "what" it was. I had been listening to Portishead for years, so of course I "knew" …. and expected the crying, the sleepless nights and the occasional getting wasted in a bar. But what I wasn't expecting at all was my physical reaction - that really caught me off guard.
My heart was in pieces and my body went bonkers
When my then-partner told me it was over, I literally felt my heart breaking. A deep pain in my chest that made it hard to breathe. And from that moment on, my body went bonkers. It was as if I had little to no control over my body.
I was shaking, trembling, my circulation was a mess, I lost consciousness a few times. Eating was a challenge, as was keeping it down. There were nights when my heart was racing so fast I thought I was having a heart attack.
I didn't call an ambulance, I didn't even go to a doctor or a psychotherapist. Because to me that would have meant giving up. It was the little five per cent of self-control I thought I had to maintain. Stupid, but that's how it was.
All in all, it took me over a year to walk upright again. Travelling alone in Thailand helped, excessive talking to friends as well. But every time I thought I was getting better, another wave of grief and despair hit me. Thankfully the waves got smaller over time. But the process was long and hard.
Why am I telling you all this? Because the other day I saw an Instagram reel of a doctor talking about the medical aspects of heartbreak. It hit me, all these memories came flooding back. I started researching and as I went deeper down the medical rabbit hole, I began to understand what was happening to me and my body.
Why a broken heart can cause serious medical issues
A sudden break-up or loss is a lot of stress for the body. Naturally, our bodies try to cope with it by producing hormones and proteins such as adrenaline and noradrenaline.
But depending on the intensity of the event, the heart muscle can be overwhelmed by the huge amount of adrenaline - and this can lead to serious medical problems.
Broken heart syndrome - same symptoms as a heart attack
There is actually a condition called Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, better known as the 'broken heart syndrome'. It occurs when a person experiences sudden acute stress due to an intense emotional or physical experience, like a loss of a loved one, extreme anger, but also an accident.
The crazy part is: People with broken heart syndrome experience the same symptoms as a heart attack, including:
Sudden, severe chest pain
Shortness of breath
Irregular heartbeats
Low blood pressure
Heart palpitations
Fainting (syncope)
SAME symptoms! The big difference is that a heart attack is usually caused by a blockage in an artery. But even if your arteries are as clear as a deserted motorway, the broken heart syndrome can cause severe weakness of the heart muscle, leading to
heart failure
shock
low blood pressure
dangerous heart rhythm abnormalities.
So there is such thing as a broken heart – and it’s not just a metaphor. The good news here is, that in most cases, patients make a full recovery under the care of doctors.
Interesting facts when suffering from a broken heart
While I was digging deeper and deeper in the cardiological rabbit hole, I found some interesting facts around the bodies’ reaction to intense stress-related events like a sudden loss or even a break-up.
Higher risk of broken heart syndrome in postmenopausal women
According to Johns Hopkins, the risk of developing this condition increases five times after the age of 55 and the vast majority of reported cases are women. Some think it’s because the hormone estrogen has a protective function for your heart. And as estrogen levels decline with age, the body may become more sensitive to the effects of intense stress.1
Happy heart syndrome more common in men
Even happy events such as becoming a grandfather or winning the lottery can, in rare cases, trigger Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. It’s called ‘happy heart syndrome’ and it has the same effects as those of broken heart syndrome, but most of these cases occur in men, a recent study has shown.2
Risk of heart attack 21 times higher after sudden loss
A study by the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre has shown that the risk of suffering a heart attack within the first day after the death of a loved one is 21 times higher than normal. The increased risk decreases as the days pass. 3
Did I have broken heart syndrome back then? Probably not.
I was in my early 30s and I think (hope) if I had had symptoms as severe as a heart attack, I think (hope) I would have called an ambulance. But all the research and remembering my story has shown me once again how deeply connected our bodies are to what we go through in life.
There is no way to protect yourself from sudden bad news or events in life. But there are ways in which we can deal with certain experiences - and also how we can look after others who are going through something tough.
Even if we think, oh, this person will get through it. I believe that projecting our own experiences onto others has never been a good idea. Listening, being there and offering help when needed is definitely the better choice.
So, apart from the strong mind-body connection, what do I take away from this? Hmm…I'll be honest: I wish my stupid pride hadn't stopped me from seeing a doctor or - even better - a therapist back then. I'm absolutely sure that not only would I have coped better with the whole break-up, but also with the symptoms of my body.
They say 'knowledge is power', right? I think in this case 'knowledge' is not only power, it creates compassion, with yourself and with others. That's probably why I wrote this article.
Cheers,
Katie
🐙🐙🐙 Additional fun fact 🐙🐙🐙
Why is broken heart syndrome also called like a fancy sushi roll?
Because the Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, aka broken heart syndrome, was actually first described by Japanese doctors. It has to do with the left ventricle of your heart which changes shape and develops a narrow neck and a round bottom. And then it looks like a Takotsubo - a Japanese octopus trap. This is the kind of knowledge you need for any pub quiz. And this is how it looks like. Thank me later.
⬇️⬇️ IMPORTANT NOTE ⬇️⬇️
If you experience symptoms similar to a heart attack, don't wait! Call your national emergency number immediately. Whatever you think the diagnosis is, it is always better and safer to be under the supervision of a doctor.
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/broken-heart-syndrome
https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/happy-heart-syndrome-even-positive-stress-can-affect-the-heart
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.111.061770