Broken Heart Syndrome: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Medically reviewed by Dr. Baraa Alnahhal, MD · Last reviewed: October 2026

Doctors usually diagnose broken heart syndrome in the emergency room because the symptoms look like a heart attack.

Quick answer

Broken heart syndrome is a temporary heart condition often triggered by severe emotional or physical stress, also called stress or takotsubo cardiomyopathy. It causes sudden chest pain and shortness of breath that mimic a heart attack. Diagnosis uses blood tests, an ECG and a coronary angiogram. There is no set treatment; medicines support the heart during recovery. [1] [2]

What the research says

According to PubMed:

• It is a reversible heart failure, and the heart usually recovers. A review describes takotsubo syndrome as a reversible acute heart failure with normal coronary arteries on angiography, in which the heart's pumping function recovers in 6 to 12 weeks; citing a meta-analysis, it reports in-hospital mortality of 1% to 4.5% and a recurrence rate of 5% to 10% over five years. (Gupta and Gupta, DOI).

• Beta blockers are linked to fewer deaths and recurrences. A meta-analysis of 19 studies (11,167 patients, mostly women) found beta-blocker therapy was associated with 28% lower all-cause mortality (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.62–0.84) and 29% lower recurrence (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.52–0.97); the studies were mostly observational, so randomized trials are still needed. (Rodriguez Mejia et al., DOI).

• Women get it more often, but men can fare worse. A meta-analysis of 13 cohort studies (104,410 patients) found men had higher in-hospital mortality (RR 2.42, 95% CI 1.53–3.83), cardiogenic shock, and arrhythmia than women, with no significant difference in recurrence (RR 1.11). (Abuelazm et al., DOI).

Study details are from PubMed abstracts.

What is broken heart syndrome?

Broken heart syndrome is a heart condition that is often brought on by stressful situations and extreme emotions. It can also be caused by a serious physical illness or surgery [1].

The name sounds like a figure of speech, but this is a real medical condition. In fact, it is known by several clinical names, including stress cardiomyopathy, takotsubo cardiomyopathy, and apical ballooning syndrome [1].

The condition is usually short-lived. That said, some people may still feel unwell even after their heart has healed [1].

Key fact	What to know
Clinical names	Stress cardiomyopathy, takotsubo cardiomyopathy, recurrent takotsubo cardiomyopathy, apical ballooning syndrome [1]
Main trigger	Severe emotional or physical stress [1]
How it feels	Sudden chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting — like a heart attack [1]
What causes it	Thought to be a sudden surge of stress hormones such as adrenaline [1]
Blocked arteries?	No — the heart arteries are not blocked [1]
Typical recovery	Many people feel fully better in about a month [2]

What does broken heart syndrome feel like?

The symptoms of broken heart syndrome can be like those of a heart attack. The three most common symptoms are chest pain, shortness of breath, and fainting [1].

Because the symptoms look so much like a heart attack, most people who have broken heart syndrome do not have heart disease symptoms before the condition starts. The event often comes on suddenly [1].

A stress surge is thought to flood the body with hormones such as adrenaline, and the heart's lower chamber can temporarily swell and weaken.

When to get emergency help

New or unexplained chest pain can be a symptom of a heart attack. Get help right away if you think you are having a heart attack. Call 911 or your local emergency number [1].

Also call for help if you have a very fast or irregular heartbeat or shortness of breath. Only testing at a hospital can tell the difference between a heart attack and broken heart syndrome [1].

Warning sign	Why it matters
New or unexplained chest pain	Can be a heart attack; needs emergency evaluation right away [1]
Shortness of breath	A common symptom of both heart attacks and broken heart syndrome [1]
Fainting	Signals that the heart is not pumping effectively [1]
Very fast or irregular heartbeat	May point to an arrhythmia that needs urgent care [1]

What causes broken heart syndrome?

The exact cause of broken heart syndrome is not clear. Doctors think it may be caused by a sudden rise in stress hormones, such as adrenaline. The body releases these hormones during something very stressful or upsetting. How these hormones might hurt the heart is not completely clear [1].

Other factors may be involved as well. The condition might happen when the large or small arteries of the heart squeeze too tightly for a short time. Some people with broken heart syndrome also have slight changes in their heart muscle [1].

Most often, the syndrome follows something physically stressful or very emotional [1].

Physical stress triggers

Trigger	Example
Serious infection	COVID-19 [1]
Sudden illness	An asthma attack [1]
Sudden lung failure	Acute respiratory failure [1]
Major surgery	Any large operation [1]
Sudden pain	Anything that causes sudden pain, such as a broken bone [1]

Emotional stress triggers

Trigger	Example
Loss	Death of a loved one or another loss [1]
Conflict	A strong argument [1]
Money stress	Serious money trouble or other financial stress [1]

Rare drug triggers

Rarely, some medicines or illicit drugs may cause broken heart syndrome. These include emergency medicines used to treat very bad allergic reactions or asthma attacks, some medicines for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), some medicines for anxiety, and medicines for a stuffy nose. Illicit drugs such as methamphetamine and cocaine can also trigger it [1].

Always tell your healthcare team about the medicines you take, including those you can buy without a prescription. When starting a new medicine, talk with your care team about possible risks and side effects [1].

How it differs from a heart attack

A blockage or partial blockage in a heart artery causes a heart attack. In broken heart syndrome, the heart arteries are not blocked. But less blood may flow through the heart arteries [1].

Heart attack	Broken heart syndrome
Caused by a blocked or partly blocked heart artery	Heart arteries are not blocked
Usually develops from long-term plaque buildup	Usually follows a sudden stress surge
Treated by procedures that open the artery	Opening procedures do not help — there is no blockage
May cause permanent heart damage	Usually short-lived; the heart often heals

Who is at risk?

Broken heart syndrome does not affect everyone the same way. Certain factors make it more likely [1].

Risk factor	What the research shows
Sex	More common in women than in men [1]
Age	Most people who have it are older than 50 [1]
Mental health conditions	People who have had or have anxiety or depression may have a higher risk [1]

What complications can broken heart syndrome cause?

Most people who have broken heart syndrome get better quickly and do not have long-lasting effects. However, the condition can come back. When this happens, it is called recurrent takotsubo cardiomyopathy [1].

Possible complications include fluid backing up into the lungs, known as pulmonary edema. Low blood pressure and irregular heartbeats, called arrhythmias, can also occur. Heart failure and blood clots in the heart are other possible complications [1].

Rarely, broken heart syndrome can cause death. That is another reason sudden chest pain should always be treated as an emergency [1].

How is broken heart syndrome diagnosed?

Broken heart syndrome is often diagnosed in the emergency room or hospital because the symptoms look a lot like a heart attack [2].

A healthcare professional examines you first. If you are stable, you are usually asked about your symptoms and medical history. You may also be asked whether anything stressful has happened lately, such as the loss of a loved one or another big life event [2].

Tests used in diagnosis

Test	What it does
Blood tests	Check for higher levels of cardiac enzymes, proteins such as troponin T found in heart muscle [2]
Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)	A quick test that measures the electrical activity of the heart using sticky electrode patches connected to a computer [2]
Coronary angiogram	A thin, soft tube (catheter) is moved through a blood vessel toward the heart, and a special dye shows the arteries on X-ray images; used to rule out a heart attack, since people with broken heart syndrome usually have no significant blockages [2]
Echocardiogram	Uses sound waves to create pictures of the beating heart; can show if the heart is bigger than usual or has an unusual shape [2]
Cardiac MRI	Uses magnetic fields and radio waves to make detailed images of the heart [2]

Once it is clear that a heart attack is not happening, the healthcare team checks whether the symptoms are caused by broken heart syndrome [2].

How is broken heart syndrome treated?

Broken heart syndrome has no set treatment, so providers treat its symptoms and complications, and many people feel fully better in about a month. Healthcare professionals treat the symptoms like a heart attack until they know for sure what is going on. Most people need to stay in the hospital while they get better. Medicines are used to treat symptoms and any complications [2].

Many people with broken heart syndrome feel fully better in about a month. An echocardiogram is done 4 to 6 weeks after the first symptoms to check whether the heart is working well again. Sometimes the condition comes back after treatment [2].

Medicines used

Medicines for broken heart syndrome are usually given to treat symptoms and complications, take stress off the heart, and help stop it from happening again [2].

Medicine type	How it helps
ACE inhibitors	Eases the workload on the heart [2]
ARBs (angiotensin 2 receptor blockers)	Helps the blood vessels relax [2]
Beta blockers	Blocks the effects of stress hormones on the heart [2]
Diuretics (water pills)	Removes extra fluid from the body [2]
Blood thinners	Used if a blood clot is present [2]

Why heart attack surgeries do not help

Surgeries and procedures used to treat a heart attack do not help treat broken heart syndrome. Those treatments open blocked arteries. Blocked arteries do not cause broken heart syndrome [2].

Care focuses on hospital support, medicines, and checking that the heart recovers within about a month.

How should you prepare for a broken heart syndrome appointment?

Broken heart syndrome is usually diagnosed in an emergency or hospital setting. If you can, bring a family member or friend with you to the hospital. Someone who goes with you can help you remember the information you are given [2].

If you can, share important information with the person taking you. Tell them about any symptoms you are having and how long you have had them. Share important personal information, including any major stresses, such as the death of a loved one or a recent job loss [2].

Also share your personal and family medical history, including conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol, or heart disease. List all medicines you take, including those bought without a prescription. Mention any recent injury to your chest, such as a broken rib or a pinched nerve [2].

Questions to ask at the hospital

• What do you think is causing my symptoms?

• I recently had a loved one suddenly die. Could my symptoms be due to this event?

• What tests do I need?

• Do I need to stay in the hospital?

• What treatments do I need right now?

• What are the risks associated with these treatments?

• Will this happen again?

• How should I change my diet or activities?

How can you reduce your risk of broken heart syndrome?

To help prevent broken heart syndrome, healthcare professionals may suggest beta blockers. These medicines help the heart by blocking the effects of stress hormones, which can hurt the heart if levels go too high [2].

Ongoing stress may increase the risk of broken heart syndrome. Managing emotional stress is important. Doing so improves your heart health and may also help prevent the syndrome [2].

Stress-reduction step	How it helps
Get more exercise	Improves overall heart health
Practice mindfulness	Helps manage ongoing emotional stress
Join a support group	Connecting with others reduces isolation and stress

Conclusion

Broken heart syndrome shows that extreme stress can affect the heart in very real ways. The symptoms mimic a heart attack, but the cause is different: no blocked artery, just a heart temporarily overwhelmed by a surge of stress hormones.

Most people recover fully within about a month, often with medicine support and a short hospital stay. Still, sudden chest pain always deserves emergency attention, and follow-up imaging confirms the heart has healed.

Next steps: Treat new or unexplained chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, or a very fast or irregular heartbeat as an emergency and call 911 or your local emergency number. After recovery, ask your care team about follow-up imaging and ways to manage stress that protect your heart.

Frequently asked questions

Is broken heart syndrome a real medical condition?

Yes. Broken heart syndrome is a recognized heart condition also known as stress cardiomyopathy or takotsubo cardiomyopathy. It is often brought on by severe emotional or physical stress and treated in a hospital, even though it is not caused by a blocked artery [1].

How long does it take to recover from broken heart syndrome?

Many people feel fully better in about a month. Doctors typically repeat an echocardiogram 4 to 6 weeks after the first symptoms to confirm the heart is working well again, though some people still feel unwell after the heart has healed [1] [2].

Can broken heart syndrome cause a heart attack?

Broken heart syndrome is not a heart attack and does not involve blocked arteries, but its symptoms closely mimic one. That is why sudden chest pain is always treated as an emergency until testing rules a heart attack in or out. The condition can cause serious complications, such as heart failure or arrhythmias, and rarely death [1].

Can stress really cause broken heart syndrome?

Yes. The leading theory is that a sudden rise in stress hormones such as adrenaline injures the heart. Triggers include the death of a loved one, a strong argument, serious financial stress, a serious infection, major surgery, or sudden pain [1].

Can broken heart syndrome come back?

Yes, sometimes. The condition can recur after treatment, and recurrence is called recurrent takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Healthcare professionals may suggest beta blockers and stress-management steps such as exercise and mindfulness to help lower the risk of it happening again [1] [2].

This article is for general education and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional about your individual situation.

References

1. Mayo Clinic Staff. Broken heart syndrome - Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. June 3, 2026. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/broken-heart-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20354617

2. Mayo Clinic Staff. Broken heart syndrome - Diagnosis and treatment. Mayo Clinic. June 3, 2026. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/broken-heart-syndrome/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354623

3. American Heart Association. Is Broken Heart Syndrome Real? American Heart Association. Last Reviewed May 31, 2024. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cardiomyopathy/what-is-cardiomyopathy-in-adults/is-broken-heart-syndrome-real

4. Gupta S, et al. Takotsubo syndrome. Indian Heart J. 2018;70(1):165-174. PMID 29455773. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ihj.2017.09.005

5. Rodriguez Mejia RA, et al. Efficacy of beta-blocker therapy in Takotsubo cardiomyopathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Cardiol. 2025;437:133483. PMID 40482835. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2025.133483

6. Abuelazm M, et al. Sex Difference in Clinical and Management Outcomes in Patients With Takotsubo Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Curr Probl Cardiol. 2023;48(4):101545. PMID 36563919. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2022.101545