In rare cases, certain drugs may trigger broken heart syndrome, because they may cause hormones to surge in your body. Such drugs include:

Broken heart syndrome can be triggered by stressful emotional events, including good events, as well as bad ones, such as:

Usually symptoms start anywhere up to a few hours after you've had stress or shock.

The most common signs are chest pain and shortness of breath. You may feel like you are having a heart attack. If you feel that way, call 911. You may also have:

If broken heart syndrome is not treated, it can be as deadly as a heart attack.

It’s thought that when you have broken heart syndrome, your body releases stress hormones that temporarily curb your heart ’s ability to pump as well as it should, and a part of your heart called the left ventricle temporarily weakens and stops pumping well. Experts also believe that your coronary arteries, which feed oxygen to your heart muscle, spasm. This can cause chest pain. The momentary "freezing"or "stunning"of your heart can bring circulation problems.

It's triggered by very stressful situations, like the death of someone you love .

Broken heart syndrome is a condition with symptoms that may feel like a heart attack , like chest pain , and shortness of breath, but it’s caused by going through an emotionally stressful event, not by clogged arteries .

Broken Heart Symptom Risk Factors Women are much more likely to have broken heart syndrome than men, especially women who are over 50. This could be a result of lower estrogen levels, but doctors aren't sure. Common risk factors include: Being over 50 (for men and women)

Genetics. Experts also believe that genes may make some people more likely to get broken heart syndrome.

Having a head injury or seizure disorder like epilepsy

Having a psychiatric disorder like anxiety or depression You're not more likely to get broken heart syndrome if you have a history of heart disease.

Broken Heart Syndrome Diagnosis If your doctor thinks you might have it, several tests can help figure things out: Physical exam and history. Your doctor will examine you and ask about your symptoms. They'll want to know about any major events or stress you've had lately. Electrocardiogram (ECG). Your doctor will do one of these to look for any problems with your heart's rhythm and structure. The results will let them know if your symptoms are from a heart attack.

Continued Blood tests. Many of them can show damage to the heart. Coronary angiogram. This test looks at coronary artery disease. Dye is injected in your chest and your coronary arteries to help your doctor see any blockages. People with heart attacks usually have them. Folks with broken heart symptoms typically don't. Echocardiogram. This ultrasound shows your doctor if you have an enlarged heart or if your heart has an abnormal shape while it pumps. That last one can be a sign of broken heart syndrome. Radionuclide perfusion imaging. A similar test to an echocardiogram, this helps show which areas of the heart muscles get blood normally through the coronary arteries. It also lets your doctor know where you could have heart damage. Chest X-ray. This can show if you have an enlarged heart or if it has an abnormal shape. It can also help to see if lung problems are the cause of your symptoms.