Heartbreak’s deadly toll: Why men are more at risk

Arguably one of the most defining themes across all music genres, heartbreak is often described as the worst emotional pain a person can experience. Furthermore, modern medicine has come to understand that emotional heartbreak can manifest physically, leading to a serious medical condition — and even death — especially for men.

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association suggests that men are twice as likely as women to die from “broken heart syndrome,” also known as takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

“Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a heart condition triggered by extreme physical or mental stress that causes the heart’s muscles to weaken and change shape,” says Dr. AbdulRahman Abutaleb, an interventional cardiologist at Advocate Health Care. “It was first noticed in Japan in the 1990s when some women developed heart dysfunction from severe stress after experiencing an earthquake. The heart’s shape in this condition resembles a ‘takotsubo,’ a Japanese pot used to catch octopuses that is round and ballooned at the bottom.”

Although broken heart syndrome is usually temporary and reversible, if left untreated, it can lead to heart failure, irregular heartbeats, stroke or even death in about 4% of cases, according to Dr. Abutaleb.

It’s important to note that while men are statistically more likely to die from broken heart syndrome, women are statistically more likely to experience the condition.

“About 9 out of 10 people with this condition are women, and it’s often triggered by emotional stress, like the loss of a loved one,” Dr. Abutaleb explains. “In men, it’s more likely to be triggered by physical trauma or serious illness. Because men often already have a serious health issue triggering this condition, their risk of dying from it is twice as high compared to women.”

So, everyone should be mindful that stress has the potential to negatively impact their heart health.

“Living a healthy lifestyle with good nutrition, regular exercise and stress management can help lower the risk of broken heart syndrome,” Dr. Abutaleb says.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, he encourages you to connect with a health care provider for a personalized care plan that supports your health and well-being.

Want to learn more abut your risk for heart disease? Take a free online quiz.