It can hit suddenly. One moment everything feels normal, and the next there is a sharp pressure in the chest, like the heart is being squeezed too tight. It feels intense, real, and frightening — and it can leave a person confused, not understanding what their own body is going through.
Broken-heart syndrome, medically known as takotsubo cardiomyopathy or stress cardiomyopathy, is a temporary heart condition that occurs when a person experiences severe emotional or physical stress. It is also sometimes called acute stress-induced cardiomyopathy or apical ballooning syndrome.
The term “takotsubo” comes from a Japanese word describing a pot used to catch octopuses. This name is used because, during the condition, the left ventricle of the heart (its main pumping chamber) changes shape. It becomes narrowed at the top and wider and rounder at the bottom, resembling that pot. As a result, the heart muscle weakens and its pumping ability is temporarily reduced.
Broken-heart syndrome is usually triggered by extreme stress, such as grief from the loss of a loved one, serious illness, surgery, financial pressure, mental trauma, accidents, or natural disasters. Researchers believe that a sudden surge of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol can temporarily affect the heart muscle and cause this change, although the exact mechanism is still not fully understood.
The condition is often mistaken for a heart attack because the symptoms are very similar. The most common symptoms include sudden and intense chest pain, pressure or heaviness in the chest, and shortness of breath. Less common symptoms may include palpitations, dizziness or fainting, nausea, and cold sweats. Unlike a typical heart attack, however, the coronary arteries are usually not blocked.
Takotsubo syndrome, also known as broken heart syndrome, is a condition where your heart muscle changes shape and suddenly weakens. This usually happens when someone is under severe emotional or physical stress.
Takotsubo syndrome mainly affects women, especially those over the age of 50. More than 90% of reported cases occur in women between the ages of 58 and 75. It is also more common in people with mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression. It is not an inherited condition and does not run in families.
In the United Kingdom alone, it is estimated to affect up to 5,000 people each year.
How is it treated?
Although there is no cure for broken heart syndrome, there is medication available to help with the symptoms and most patients will feel the benefit almost immediately and go on to make a full recovery.
Certain heart medication such as beta blockers may be recommended to reduce the stress on your heart, as well as blood thinning medication to reduce the risk of clotting.
The heart muscle usually heals within 2-4 weeks. Talk to your doctor about managing physical and emotional stress in the future.
16.05.2026.
