Yes! Often referred to as broken heart syndrome (stress-induced cardiomyopathy, or takotsubo cardiomyopathy), experts say though rare, it is medically possible to die from heartbreak. 

Can You Die of a Broken Heart?

Yes! Often referred to as broken heart syndrome, experts say though rare, it is medically possible to die from heartbreak. 


Broken heart syndrome occurs when a sudden surge of stress hormones, like adrenaline, prevents the heart from contracting properly.

What is broken heart syndrome?

High emotional and physical stress situations.

What causes broken heart syndrome?

Anyone, at any age, can experience broken heart syndrome, even people with no history of heart disease.

Who's at risk of suffering from broken heart syndrome?

Your healthcare provider will get a medical history on you and ask if you recently experienced any high levels of stress.

How is broken heart syndrome diagnosed?

The good news is that it's also almost always treatable, and many people make a full recovery in just a few weeks.