Whether from a friend, through songs or poems, we have all, at one point or the other, heard about a broken heart. In fact, some people scoff at those who believe it exists. But, is there really such a thing?

Broken heart syndrome, otherwise known as takutsubo cardiomyopathy, is the sudden onset of heart failure associated with electrocardiography changes similar to a heart attack.

The surprising thing is that stress, sometimes from losing loved ones, can cause heart failure or broken heart syndrome.

Take for instance Debbie Reynolds who passed away in December 2016. It was alleged that the stress of losing her daughter Carrie Fisher the day before was too much for her to bear.

In the medical field, takutsubo cardiomyopathy is thought to occur because there are high levels of stress hormones circulating in the blood, which affect the blood supply to the heart.

This occurs as the heart muscle goes into shock and can’t contract properly to squeeze out the blood in its chambers. This failure of the heart to pump blood is called congestive heart failure. It is usually caused by longstanding hypertension or heart disease.

Dr Victor Elliot, consultant and interventional cardiologist at the University Hospital of the West Indies, says triggers of broken heart syndrome include emotional-type stress such as the death of a loved one, catastrophic news, financial stress, natural disasters, and the stress of physical illnesses.

He was speaking at the Heart Foundation of Jamaica’s heart month medical symposium last Thursday at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, on takutsubo cardiomyopathy. The symposium was held under the theme “Stress and Heart Disease”.

While Dr Elliot pointed out that broken heart syndrome accounts for only two per cent of suspected heart failure cases, he said it is important to note that this condition is much more common in peri or post menopausal women, ages 58-75 years; and twice as common in marijuana users.

He also added that most patients will present with acute heart failure and with symptoms of acute coronary syndrome.

Like a heart attack, there is shortness of breath and chest pain. This weakened heart cannot pump blood effectively, leading to heart failure. The weakening can be triggered by emotional stress, such as the death of a loved one, relationship problems, break-ups, financial problems and general anxiety. Sometimes physical stressors such as accidents, surgery and asthma can cause the syndrome.

While the mortality rate of people with broken heart syndrome is relatively low and patients return to their normal function within weeks, Dr Elliot said it is important patients learn to cope with stress as takutsubo cardiomyopathy can recur if the same stressor is present.

Counselling and learning different methods of stress prevention and relief may help to prevent the occurrence of broken heart syndrome.

In fact, a reduction in stress not only prevents this disease but other health problems associated with high stress hormones, such as poor sleep, weight gain, stomach problems, and in the long run, high blood pressure and heart disease.