The Science Behind a Heartbreak

Nothing breaks like a heart.

By Erin Rought

Heartbreak is complicated since it is more than a feeling. It causes physical damage to a person once they experience it. Yet, what are those effects? Well, let’s take a look. 

Everyone will experience heartbreak, whether it’s romantic; platonic; or other; everyone has either experienced it or will. If a person has already experienced it, they may be wondering why they have certain physical reactions. If a person has yet to experience it, hopefully they see this article and will be more prepared for what may come. 

The Lynx Rufus previously wrote an article called “Love on the Brain: The Science of Falling in Love”, where we explained how the brain goes through a lot of changes when falling in love. Although the same effects cannot be found when going through a heartbreak, there are some other effects. A person may notice a lack of motivation, headaches, lack of sleep. appetite changes and easily changed in their emotional state​ (Kelman, 2016)​. One of the terms used for this is “Broken Heart syndrome”. 

“Broken Heart syndrome” is also the name of a physical reaction to a heartbreak, causing it to possibly be deadly. “Broken heart syndrome” can also be known as takotsubo cardiomyopathy, takotsubo syndrome, transient left ventricular apical ballooning, and stress-induced cardiomyopathy​ (DiLonardo, 2024)​. It causes the heart’s left ventricle to swell, making people experience symptoms much like a heart attack or heart failure. The study in 2005 shows that the people suffering from broken heart syndrome had EKG results suggesting heart attacks and proteins in the blood that showed heart-muscle injury, however their heart showed zero signs of coronary heart disease (the clogged and inflamed arteries that cause heart-attacks) ​(Nealson, 2025)​.  There are four different types of broken heart syndrome. There’s apical, the most common type; Mid-ventricular that affects a person's ventricle, making the area look like a belt (or ring) around their heart; Basel, which looks like a ring (or belt) higher up in the heart. This is only about 2% of cases. And then there is Focal, which is only about 1% of cases. The area that is affected forms a bulge that sticks out from the rest of your heart and has the opposite side of the heart curve inward towards the bulge​ (Broken Heart Syndrome, 2023)​. 

Heartbreak is a complicated thing. It can cause both physical symptoms and emotional symptoms. Next time a friend, family member, or even a stranger is going through heartbreak, this article will hopefully help explain their symptoms and what’s happening. Just, don’t ignore that chest pain, that may be a heart attack. 

Wanna chat? Email Erin at er965821@ohio.edu or follow her on instagram at @attitudesgenetic