Why men with broken heart syndrome are more likely to die, according to experts
- Replies 0
Why men with broken heart syndrome are more likely to die, according to experts
It strikes suddenly, often after a moment of deep sorrow, fear, or physical strain.
The symptoms mirror a heart attack, but the cause lies in an unexpected corner of the mind-body connection.
Most people have never heard of it—yet it’s quietly affecting thousands each year.
And for reasons doctors are still trying to understand, it may be far deadlier for some than others.
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, commonly called broken heart syndrome, mimics the symptoms of a heart attack—chest pain, palpitations, and shortness of breath.
Though rare, the condition is typically triggered by extreme emotional or physical stress and involves a sudden flood of stress hormones that temporarily weaken the heart muscle.
While 83% of cases occur in women, a new US-based study finds men are more than twice as likely to die from the condition, with a mortality rate of 11.2%.
Dr. Mohammad Reza Movahed, a clinical professor of medicine at the University of Arizona, called the findings “very striking,” and said they raise new questions about gender-based differences in how the condition affects patients.
The reason for the higher male mortality rate isn’t entirely clear, but experts point to both biological and behavioral factors.
Men are believed to release more stress hormones—known as catecholamines—during intense situations.
At high levels, these hormones can “stun” the heart’s cells, making it difficult to pump blood effectively.
In contrast, estrogen, which is more prevalent in women, may offer some protection by regulating the cardiovascular response to stress.
Beyond biology, social behavior plays a role. Men may delay care, misinterpret symptoms, or even be misdiagnosed, since TC is often seen as a women's disease.
This can lead to treatment delays and worse outcomes. Cardiologist Dr. Deepak Bhatt warns that physicians might overlook TC in men, causing fatal complications to go untreated.
These complications can include heart failure, stroke, or cardiac arrest. However, if detected early, the condition is treatable.
Medications can restore heart function, and most patients recover fully within weeks. Still, awareness and rapid diagnosis are critical to survival.
The study, which analyzed nearly 200,000 hospital records from 2016 to 2020, was limited to inpatient data.
It did not account for outpatient cases or deaths that occurred post-discharge, meaning the actual mortality gap could be even wider.
Experts say a more detailed dataset is needed to fully understand the risk factors and long-term outcomes, particularly for male patients.
Experts emphasize the importance of not ignoring symptoms, particularly after emotionally or physically intense experiences.
This isn’t the time to tough it out, said Bhatt. “Time matters. By winning those few hours, you could save yourself irreparable damage to your heart.”
Managing chronic stress through daily habits like meditation, regular exercise, or therapy can also lower your risk.
Sudden emotional shocks may not be avoidable—but how your body responds to them can be improved with long-term care and awareness.
Read next:
Have you or someone you know ever experienced symptoms like chest pain during times of high stress? What do you think could help raise awareness about conditions like this—especially in men? Leave a comment and share this article with anyone who might benefit from knowing the signs of broken heart syndrome.
It strikes suddenly, often after a moment of deep sorrow, fear, or physical strain.
The symptoms mirror a heart attack, but the cause lies in an unexpected corner of the mind-body connection.
Most people have never heard of it—yet it’s quietly affecting thousands each year.
And for reasons doctors are still trying to understand, it may be far deadlier for some than others.
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, commonly called broken heart syndrome, mimics the symptoms of a heart attack—chest pain, palpitations, and shortness of breath.
Though rare, the condition is typically triggered by extreme emotional or physical stress and involves a sudden flood of stress hormones that temporarily weaken the heart muscle.
While 83% of cases occur in women, a new US-based study finds men are more than twice as likely to die from the condition, with a mortality rate of 11.2%.
Dr. Mohammad Reza Movahed, a clinical professor of medicine at the University of Arizona, called the findings “very striking,” and said they raise new questions about gender-based differences in how the condition affects patients.
Why men with broken heart syndrome are more likely to die. Image source: Ashkan Forouzani / Unsplash
The reason for the higher male mortality rate isn’t entirely clear, but experts point to both biological and behavioral factors.
Men are believed to release more stress hormones—known as catecholamines—during intense situations.
At high levels, these hormones can “stun” the heart’s cells, making it difficult to pump blood effectively.
In contrast, estrogen, which is more prevalent in women, may offer some protection by regulating the cardiovascular response to stress.
Beyond biology, social behavior plays a role. Men may delay care, misinterpret symptoms, or even be misdiagnosed, since TC is often seen as a women's disease.
This can lead to treatment delays and worse outcomes. Cardiologist Dr. Deepak Bhatt warns that physicians might overlook TC in men, causing fatal complications to go untreated.
These complications can include heart failure, stroke, or cardiac arrest. However, if detected early, the condition is treatable.
Medications can restore heart function, and most patients recover fully within weeks. Still, awareness and rapid diagnosis are critical to survival.
The study, which analyzed nearly 200,000 hospital records from 2016 to 2020, was limited to inpatient data.
It did not account for outpatient cases or deaths that occurred post-discharge, meaning the actual mortality gap could be even wider.
Experts say a more detailed dataset is needed to fully understand the risk factors and long-term outcomes, particularly for male patients.
Experts emphasize the importance of not ignoring symptoms, particularly after emotionally or physically intense experiences.
This isn’t the time to tough it out, said Bhatt. “Time matters. By winning those few hours, you could save yourself irreparable damage to your heart.”
Managing chronic stress through daily habits like meditation, regular exercise, or therapy can also lower your risk.
Sudden emotional shocks may not be avoidable—but how your body responds to them can be improved with long-term care and awareness.
Read next:
- Could this 14-year-old’s app save your life? Instantly detect early heart failure in just 7 seconds
- Are you skipping this daily habit? Scientists say it could put your heart at risk
