The exact cause of broken heart syndrome is unknown. It is generally thought to be caused by a surge of stress hormones, such as adrenaline, that suddenly causes the heart to temporarily enlarge, decrease the pumping action and possibly restrict one or more of the coronary arteries.
Broken heart syndrome tends to happen after intense physical or emotional events. Some examples of such events include:
In some rare cases, the use of certain drugs or medications might also lead to broken heart syndrome.
Broken heart syndrome is different from a heart attack. A heart attack is usually caused by acute cessation of blood flow in one of the coronary arteries due to blood clots formed on a ruptured cholesterol plaque. In broken heart syndrome, the arteries are not blocked but blood flow in the arteries may be reduced.
Even though the exact cause of broken heart syndrome is unknown, there are certain risk factors that might increase one’s chances of getting it. These include:
Age: Those who are above the age of 50, especially post-menopausal women, are at higher risk of getting broken heart syndrome. The exact reason for this is not known, but it is thought that the female hormone oestrogen helps to protect the heart from any harmful effects of adrenaline. When women go through menopause, their oestrogen levels decrease, thus increasing their risk of developing this condition.
Gender: Women are more likely than men to have broken heart syndrome.
Past or current mental health disorders: Those with a history of mental health disorders such as anxiety or depression have a higher risk of developing broken heart syndrome.
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