You’ve probably seen it in the movies – someone becoming so sad that they die of a  broken heart –  but does that actually  happen in real life?

 

There is such a thing as ‘broken heart syndrome,’ but it’s not usually fatal, according to Dr. Steven Nissen, a cardiologist at Cleveland Clinic.

 

He says it occurs most often after  an extreme emotional experience,  triggers  a surge of adrenaline, that mimics a heart attack. The heart muscle  contracts and as a result it looks a heart attack,  when an EKG is performed.

 

However, unlike a heart attack, the patient has  no blockage present, just a contraction problem. Folks rarely die from broken heart syndrome, but they can become very sick

 

“More people that have this are women than men, probably at least four or five to one. So it does occur more commonly in women, perhaps it’s because women experience emotions more strongly than men typically in our society,” Dr. Nissen says. 

 

The good news is that people  who experience this type of event can expect their heart muscle to return to normal after a few weeks.

 

It’s important to never assume that any chest pain or pressure is not a heart attack and you should always call 911 first.