Can a Broken Heart Really Break Your Heart?

Is there anything more soul-crushing than losing someone you love? Whether it be the end of a romantic relationship or the death of someone you care about deeply, a broken heart is one of the most emotionally intense experiences any of us will ever go through. There is no doubt that losing a loved one can greatly affect your emotional and mental state, but what are the physical effects on the body? And can a broken heart actually break your heart? Studies show that emotional distress does indeed affect the physical body in a number of different ways. First of all, emotional pain causes blood to flow to regions of the brain that are also responsible for producing physical pain. This is why many people may feel what psychologists call "somatosensory representations" of pain after a hurtful experience such as rejection. Secondly, heartbreak can interfere with your immune system, which in turn can cause inflammation and a weakening of defenses against illness and infection. Perhaps the most harmful aspect of heartbreak is that it is incredibly stressful, and when we are stressed, our bodies produce an excess of the hormones adrenaline and cortisol. In small doses these hormones raise the heart rate, which is not such a bad thing, but high levels can overwhelm the heart and in some cases actually result in heart failure. You may be surprised to hear that there is a condition called "broken heart syndrome," and it has been the focus of many scientific studies. Also known as "str...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news