The Anatomy of a Broken Heart

Loss is an opportunity for the heart to expand.

A drawing by Louise Bourgeois

The Mayo Clinic website tells me that broken heart syndrome "is a temporary heart condition that's often brought on by stressful situations and extreme emotions. The condition can also be triggered by a serious physical illness or surgery." You may have sudden chest pain or think you're having a heart attack. Broken heart syndrome disrupts the heart's usual ability to pump while the rest of the heart continues to function.

The exact cause of broken heart syndrome is unclear. It could be a rush of adrenaline that temporarily damages part of your heart or a squeezing of the large or small arteries. Those with broken heart syndrome could have a structural change in the muscle of the heart. Most often, the syndrome is preceded by an overwhelming physical or emotional event. Understandably, those who experience anxiety and depression are at a higher risk for it.