A recent study conducted by the German Center for Cardiovascular Research has revealed that physical stress poses a greater threat to the heart than emotional stress.
The study found that both emotional tension and acute physical strain can trigger a condition known as stress-induced cardiomyopathy. Patients suffering from this condition may experience shortness of breath and chest pain, and they can even have a heart attack — despite the absence of blockages in the coronary arteries.
Researchers discovered that physical stress is more likely to cause heart problems in men, whereas emotional stress is more often the trigger for heart issues in women. Interestingly, the study also found that when women are exposed to increased physical strain, their risk of heart complications worsens significantly.
The study followed 84 patients diagnosed with stress-induced cardiomyopathy between 2003 and 2015. They were divided into two groups: one whose condition was triggered by emotional stress, and the other by physical stress.
After five years of monitoring, researchers found that life-threatening complications like blood clots and severe heart rhythm disturbances were significantly more common in the group affected by physical stress than in those whose condition was emotionally induced.
Dr. Ibrahim Al-Battrawi, the lead researcher in the study, stated: "For a long time, it was believed that this condition is relatively harmless because the heart’s function usually recovers within three months at most. But serious secondary complications can actually occur months later and affect around four percent of patients — sometimes resulting in death."
The condition, known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy — or “broken heart syndrome” — was first identified by Japanese researchers over 20 years ago and has gained widespread attention in Western countries in the past decade. It temporarily weakens the heart’s ability to pump blood efficiently, mimicking the symptoms of a heart attack such as chest pain and shortness of breath. In rarer cases, it can be fatal.
Although the symptoms of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy closely resemble those of a heart attack, their causes are fundamentally different. A heart attack results from a blockage in one of the coronary arteries supplying the heart muscle, whereas the exact mechanism behind Takotsubo remains unclear.
This condition is believed to be associated with abnormal contraction patterns in the left ventricle — the heart’s main pumping chamber — and is not caused by blocked arteries. While research into the condition continues worldwide, the scientific consensus so far suggests that stress hormones like adrenaline play a major role in triggering it.
Experts recommend avoiding triggers of stress and engaging in relaxation techniques after working under intense pressure. Doctors warn that chronic stress, which affects many people, is one of the key risk factors for sudden cardiac arrest.
They also found that stress hormone levels were significantly elevated in people shortly before they suffered cardiac arrest. Some American experts have even linked stress hormone surges and stress-related insomnia — which can lead to cardiac arrest — to certain bacteria. These bacteria may inflame blood vessels and disrupt normal blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body.
Furthermore, stress hormones can damage the biofilm, a protective layer of microscopic organisms in the human body. When arterial function is compromised, the vessels become narrowed and fail to deliver enough oxygen to the heart. This can disturb the heart’s rhythm and eventually cause it to stop.
