AdvertisementMike Kocsis, hormone health expert at Balance My Hormones, told HuffPost UK: “A broken heart isn’t just an emotional experience, it’s a real physiological and psychological phenomenon.”Why a broken heart can feel physically realThe stress-heart connection“When you experience intense emotional distress, like heartbreak, your body releases stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. “In extreme cases, this can lead to a condition called Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, also known as ‘broken heart syndrome’.”AdvertisementSymptoms of this can include chest pain and shortness of breath, similar to a heart attack. Emotional stress can also overstimulate the vagus nerve, running from your brain to your heart and gut, the expert explained, which can cause chest tightness, nausea, and sometimes dizziness or fainting. How to manage the stress of heartbreak and protect your healthHeartbreak is hard-going and can impact people in different ways. Consider speaking to a therapist, who can provide the tools to cope with the emotional stress you’re going through and improve your overall wellbeing.”You’ve got this.

Source: Huffington Post February 22, 2026 09:49 UTC