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Have you ever felt pain so strong that it felt like your chest was breaking? I’m not talking about poetry, but about something real, physical, capable of taking someone to the hospital. Helena, 62 years old, found this out the hard way: after losing her husband, she woke up with intense pain in her chest. He thought: “It’s a heart attack!” But it wasn’t. It was Broken Heart Syndrome.
Yes, it exists. And it’s not an exaggeration. This condition, called Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy by doctors, arises when the heart, shaken by extreme stress, temporarily loses its pumping strength. The name comes from a Japanese vase used to capture octopuses, because the shape of the heart at this stage resembles that object. Poetic? Perhaps. But dangerous? For sure.
It’s not just about love
Anyone who thinks that this syndrome only appears after a broken passion is mistaken. It can arise after betrayals, disappointments, deep frustrations, family losses, financial crises or even unexpected good news. Anything that intensely shakes our emotions can be a trigger. The heart feels and responds.
Why does this happen?
Imagine your body flooding with adrenaline after devastating news. This excess of stress hormones “stuns” the heart muscle. Result: chest pain, shortness of breath, altered exams, everything like a heart attack, but without clogged arteries.
Who is most at risk?
Women, especially after menopause, represent 83% of cases.
Mortality reaches 6.5%, and may be higher in men.
And be careful: during the pandemic, cases quadrupled. Isolation, fear and quick losses were powerful triggers.
Far beyond the heart: it’s about us
This syndrome sends a clear message: the mind and body talk all the time. When life hits us, be it a loss, a betrayal, a crisis, the heart responds. And post-COVID, this has become even more evident. Millions have lost loved ones without saying goodbye. Research shows that 11% of mourners develop prolonged grief. It’s not just sadness: it’s physical health at risk.
And how to take care of your heart and mind?
There is no magic formula, but there are ways:
- Talk about your pain. Therapy is not luxury, it is care.
- Breathe, meditate, walk. Small rituals calm the mind.
- Build support networks. Friends, family, groups, no one should face this alone.
- Watch for signs: sadness that doesn’t go away, insomnia, intense anxiety. Seek help.
In the end, the heart is not just a muscle. It is also a mirror of our emotions. In times of rapid losses and delayed hugs, taking care of your mind is as vital as measuring your blood pressure. Because, yes, pain can break your heart, but it can also be healed with affection, attention and time.
