A new study from the Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA) found that men die from a condition known as “broken heart syndrome” at more than twice the rate that women do.
Broken heart syndrome, formally called takotsubo cardiomyopathy, is a heart condition that is brought on by physical or emotional stress, which can mimic the symptoms of a heart attack, such as sudden chest pains or shortness of breath. According to the Mayo Clinic, the condition is more common in women.
The study from JAHA analyzed data from 200,000 adults in the U.S. who were hospitalized with broken heart syndrome from 2016 to 2020. In that group, around 11 percent of men died from the condition compared to roughly 5 percent of women dying.
Researchers say the difference in outcomes between men and women could likely have something to do with what triggers the condition.
In men, the syndrome is usually brought on by a physical stressor such as a stroke or a surgery. In women, it’s likely triggered more by emotional stressors such as losing a loved one.
The research also suggested men may have a harder time recovering since they tend to have a lack of social support to help them manage stress, pointing to research done by Pew Research Center.
Cardiologists say the best thing for people to do when experiencing symptoms is not to dismiss any symptoms as stress and to see a doctor when they happen.
