Lifestyle: Sudden shock could weaken your heart

05-03-2006 13:01

A sudden shock like losing a loved one or a failed romance could make your heart weak, reiterates a study.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University found that sudden emotional stress could trigger a series of symptoms that mimic a serious heart attack causing severe heart muscle weakness, reported health portal Health Central.

Doctors call the condition stress cardiomyopathy, but it's often described to patients as "broken heart syndrome". It's usually treatable, and it rarely causes permanent damage, they said.