What is a Broken Heart Syndrome?

Though quite rare, health experts say it is possible to die from grief, phenomenon called "Broken Heart Syndrome".

Broken heart syndrome was first identified in the 1990s and has been studied ever since.

It is commonly believed to occur when an individual loses a partner or spouse. As per SRRS, the death of spouse is recognised as one of the most stressful things one can experience.

The Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) – commonly known as the Holmes & Rahe Stress Scale – is a self-assessment tool for measuring the total stress you're experiencing.

According to the American Heart Association, the cause of rare heart condition is due to surge of stress hormones, resulting in stress-induced cardiomyopathy.

Due to symptoms similar to heart attack, it is often misdiagnosed. Though both attacks display a dramatic change in rhythm, there are no blocked arteries in broken heart syndrome. 

Apart from grief, this condition could also occur due to sudden shock, even if pleasant, anger or fear.

There are no known preventive treatments for broken heart syndrome. However, managing stress and improving physical and emotional health along with practicing relaxation techniques can be helpful.