Sudden, acute mental or physical stress can cause temporary weakening of the heart muscles, known as “broken heart syndrome.”

The medical term is “takotsubo cardiomyopathy.” Although it is diagnosed more often in women, recent studies show that men are at a significantly higher risk of death from this condition.

The symptoms are very similar to those of a heart attack—chest pain, shortness of breath, and irregular heartbeat. The difference between the two conditions is that in broken heart syndrome, these symptoms are not caused by blocked arteries.

A recent large-scale global study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that 83% of cases of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy are diagnosed in women, but the in-hospital mortality rate in men is 11.2%, compared to just 5.5% in women.

Therefore, the risk of death in men is more than twice that of women.

Men are also more likely to develop it after physical stress, such as infections or surgery. In women, estrogen probably also provides some protection, thereby reducing the severity of the disease. | BGNES