Broken Heart Syndrome: Can you die from a broken heart?

While anyone can face a broken heart, broken heart syndrome (also known as takotsubo cardiomyopathy or stress cardiomyopathy) is a condition almost unique to women between the age of 50-80. The cause of the heart condition is not completely known, but is thought to be triggered by adrenaline which surges in stressful situations.

When someone’s heart experiences broken heart syndrome, their heart (when observed in the catheterization laboratory) resembles the pots that fisherman use to capture octopi in Japan (aka a takotsubo).

While the condition is uncommon, women who do experience Broken Heart syndrome present symptoms just like an acute heart attack — experiencing acute chest pain, shortness of breath, and EKGs which look very much like an acute Myocardial Infarction (MI). The difference between this and a true heart attack is that the heart arteries in broken heart syndrome typically have no significant blockage. The other major difference is that  in broken heart syndrome the damage that occurs to the heart heals fairly rapidly (sometimes in as little as a few weeks).

Diagnosis is made based on a patient’s symptoms, an EKG, heart enzyme analysis — troponin, and either a cardiac catheterization or an echocardiogram showing the dilated and dyrfunctional heart muscle.

Treatment is with medications. Typically, the same medications (e.g. beta blockers or angiotensin converting enzyme inhibititors) which are used in heart attacks are used for these patients, if for a shorter period of time. Patients can become very sick during the period of time they have this condition, and sometimes have to be supported through episodes of acute congestive heart failure and shock. Occasionally medication or even life support is necessary to get them through the worst parts.

Related: Take this quiz to find out your risk of heart disease.

What causes Broken Heart Syndrome, and can we predict it?

While the thought is that it is always a stressful emotional situation which causes this condition, it can also be seen in situations of physical stress. Infections or having surgery can precipitate it. We have seen cases caused by funerals, death of a loved one, or even while being arrested.

Although broken heart syndrome is typically caused by negative stress, about half of the cases are not caused by a particular stressor. It just happens. Since this condition closely mimics a true heart attack, if you have the sorts of symptoms which occur during either situation (chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting), the most important thing to do is seek quick medical attention.

Although broken heart syndrome can be fatal, death from this condition is, thankfully, quite rare. The vast majority of patients who have this condition recover completely, and what’s interesting is that almost no one who has had this ever has it happen to them again.

We currently have a registry of over 150 individuals who have had this happen to them, and continue to examine these patients, improve the treatment, and explore the potential causes of this interesting (and sometimes dangerous) condition.