How you can die from a broken heart

Melbourne researchers have found you can die from a broken heart.

But they’ve found a way to prevent and rapidly reverse the cardiac injury.

Professor Sam El-Osta, from Monash Central Clinical School, told Dee Dee Dunleavy about the condition.

“Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a heart condition brought on by stressful mental health situations and extreme emotional triggers often following traumatic events,” he said.

“Broken heart syndrome can occur even if you are completely healthy and have no family history of cardio problems.

“The symptoms are very similar to a heart attack, you feel chest pain, shortness of breath and experience an irregular heartbeat.

“Women are by far more likely than men to experience broken heart.”

Professor El-Osta said people can recover from broken heart syndrome.

“It takes time for recovery,” he told Dee Dee Dunleavy.

“What we have identified here in Melbourne is for the first time a TPA and TGA approved drug.”

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