Science of Heartbreak

Love was one of the first human discoveries, and about 2 years and 9 months later, heartbreak was discovered. That is the average length of a love-relationship in this day and age. There are many reasons for heartbreak but, I’m looking at the physical and mental impact it has on us.

Image result for broken heart

Heartbreak is a wall. Not many of us can overcome it on the first try. Everyone experiences it in different ways all based on gender and beliefs. Around the world, there are relationships shattering and destroying a vital organ. As a result, humans are most vulnerable both emotionally and physically, after a love-relationship breakup. Scientifically, the name for a broken heart is: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, or broken heart syndrome. It is caused when the heart muscle stuns, it also starts to deform and change its shape. This occurs usually after a physically or emotionally stressful event. to make matters worse it can also happen from a sudden burst of happiness like winning the lottery.

Image result for broken heart

She had won the lottery. He was the perfect boy; he knew how to treat her like she wanted. She was his world and he was hers. They were perfect together. He always planned the dates perfectly and for the few months she was happy. Then things changed. She never understood why but, when the words came out of his mouth, she was pulverized. She couldn’t believe it. She had lost him.

She could feel her body lose control, the pain made living in her body unbearable. The first week she gained 5 pounds, the second she lost 10. She was addicted and once she lost it, she went into withdrawal, she became depressed. She wanted to be alone, her hormones suffocated her as if she was in a collapsing building. She eventually got through it, but only after she met another.

 

   “Please don’t let this one be like the last one.” she whispered to herself over and over again.

Image result for broken heart

     Heartbreak is a serious issue that many people face around the world, it has no remorse. It affects the rich and the poor, the careful and reckless, and the old and young.

This disease is especially dangerous for the old and fragile. Making it an unforgiving biological gunman. Multiple studies conducted in 2008 inferred that when in bereavement a spouse will have a higher mortality rate. They are six times more likely to die due to natural causes. Love is the most natural cocaine the body produces. Similar to any addiction, once off of it a person goes through withdrawal. Symptoms can include:

  • Increased sensitivity to pain.
  • Irritability.
  • Emotional instability, anxiety and depression.
  • Restlessness or insomnia.
  • Sweating, hot flashes.
  • Flu-like symptoms: weakness, body aches and headaches.
  • Lack of or increased appetite.

The disgusting part of all of this is that we are all told, “oh, you will get over it. Just don’t think about it.” Thoughts like these is why heartbreak is still a rampant issue not being treated. Heartbreak is thought of more as an idea than it is a virus, bacteria, or infection even though it is identical to them. Due to this, not enough research has been done on it to give us concrete evidence.

 

Engle, Gigi. “The Pain Is Real: 8 Scientific Effects Heartbreak Has On The Body.” Elite Daily, Elite Daily, 9 Oct. 2017,  www.elitedaily.com/dating/scientific-reasons-why-a-broken-heart-is-really-bad-for-you/970609

. “Future – How Love and Heartache Affect the Body.” BBC, BBC, 13 Feb. 2015, www.bbc.com/future/story/20150213-how-love-and-heartbreak-affect-us.

Kross, E, et al. “Social Rejection Shares Somatosensory Representations with Physical Pain.”Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 12 Apr. 2011, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21444827.

. “Heightened Mortality after the Death of a Spouse: Marriage Protection or Marriage Selection?” Journal of Health Economics, North-Holland, 11 Apr. 2008, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167629608000337.

. “Drug Withdrawal Symptoms | Drug Detox and Addiction Treatment | Futures of Palm Beach.” Futures of Palm Beach FL Addiction Treatment, Rehab, and Detox Center, 0ADAD, www.futuresofpalmbeach.com/addiction-treatment/drug-alcohol-detox/coping-with-withdrawal-symptoms/.

. “Alone.” Thedailybeast.com, 0ADAD, img.thedailybeast.com/image/upload/v1492121669/articles/2015/11/19/can-you-die-from-a-broken-heart/151119-sepkowitz-brokenheart-tease_ncqlb8.jpg.

. “Free Image on Pixabay – Heart, Broken Heart, Faces, Man.” Free Illustration: Heart, Broken Heart, Faces, Man – Free Image on Pixabay – 2021561, 0ADAD, pixabay.com/p-2021561/?no_redirect.

 

 

 

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