London: Giving credence to what has inspired sonneteers and songwriters galore, a new study says that a broken heart really can be bad for your health.
An international team has carried out the study and found that a broken heart can take a toll on a person's health as emotional loss triggers symptoms similar to a heart attack, 'The Daily Telegraph' reported.
According to researchers, rows with a spouse and bad news about a loved one can spark a rush of stress hormones to the heart causing it to weaken or even appear "stunned", a condition, which doctors have dubbed "broken heart syndrome".
The team, led by Brown University, has based its findings on an analysis of 70 patients with the "broken heart syndrome" between 2004 and 2008.
The researchers found that two thirds had suffered extreme emotional or physical stress immediately before their symptoms appeared. These ranged from domestic disagreements, upsetting information about a family member, to physical illness or even a car accident.
All arrived at the hospital with symptoms similar to those experienced by heart attack victims, including chest pain and shortness of breath. One in five were critically ill and needed emergency treatment to keep them alive.