Life has a way of catching you off guard. One moment, everything feels steady. The next, you’re swept up in a wave of grief, unexpected joy or deep stress — and it hits harder than you imagined. What you might not realize is that your heart doesn’t just feel these moments emotionally. It feels them physically, too.
Christina S. Reuss, MD, a cardiologist who leads HonorHealth Women’s Heart Health Program, sees it often: patients who rush in, convinced they’re having a heart attack — but the culprit is something more unexpected.
It’s called takotsubo syndrome, more commonly known as broken heart syndrome. “The symptoms can be frightening and very real,” Dr. Reuss says. “But the encouraging news is that it’s reversible. With the right diagnosis and care, most people recover fully.”
The heart-stress connection
Takotsubo syndrome happens when sudden emotional or physical stress temporarily weakens the left ventricle, the heart’s main pumping chamber. The name comes from a Japanese word for an octopus trap, which resembles the heart’s shape during an episode.
Unlike a traditional heart attack, broken heart syndrome isn’t caused by blocked arteries. Instead, a flood of stress hormones — especially adrenaline — temporarily stuns your heart, disrupting how it works. While doctors don’t fully understand why it happens, one thing is clear: Your emotional health and heart health are closely connected.
It’s more common than you think
Anyone can experience broken heart syndrome, but it’s most common in postmenopausal women. Lower estrogen levels may reduce the heart’s natural defenses. That said, men and younger people can be affected too.
Triggers can vary — the loss of a loved one, a breakup, a major shock (good or bad), extreme anxiety, surgery or a serious illness. If you’ve gone through something life-altering, it’s important to listen to what your body is telling you.
Listen to your heart
The symptoms of broken heart syndrome feel a lot like a heart attack: chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting or irregular heartbeats. That’s why it’s critical to seek immediate care if you ever experience these symptoms. “Only a doctor can tell the difference between a heart attack and broken heart syndrome," says Dr. Reuss. “And when it comes to your heart, it’s always better to be safe.”
Seeing the full picture
To diagnose broken heart syndrome, your care team will likely use several tests:
- Electrocardiogram (EKG) to check your heart’s rhythm
- Blood tests to look for signs of heart damage
- Echocardiogram (Echo) see how well your heart is pumping and check for any heart valve issues
- Coronary angiography to rule out blocked, torn or spasm of arteries
At HonorHealth, your care may also include a functional angiogram — an advanced tool that shows real-time blood flow and detects changes in the heart’s smallest vessels. This innovative test helps us get a more complete understanding of what’s going on inside your heart.
If you’re diagnosed with broken heart syndrome, your treatment may include medications like beta blockers to calm your heart, ACE inhibitors to support function and diuretics to manage fluid buildup. But medication is only part of the picture. Managing stress is just as important. You might benefit from therapy, meditation, deep breathing or gentle movement. Your provider can help you find what works for you.
Recovery is within reach
“Most people with broken heart syndrome recover fully within a few weeks, with no lasting damage,” says Dr. Reuss. “Your heart is incredibly resilient — and so are you.”
Still, stress management is key to protecting your heart in the future. While you can’t always control what happens in life, you can control how you respond. Practices like mindfulness, regular exercise, connecting with loved ones, eating well and seeking support when you need it can all help you feel stronger — physically and emotionally.
If you’ve experienced broken heart syndrome, it’s normal to feel shaken. But know this: Healing isn’t just possible — it’s likely. Your heart, much like you, is stronger than you think. A broken heart may ache, but it can heal. And so can you.
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