Why do people break your heart?
ANSWER: Most people have experienced a broken heart, and there are multiple possible causes. But whether it comes from a breakup with a significant other or the death of a loved one, heartbreak is never easy.
Unfortunately, there’s no Band-Aid for broken hearts — but there are ways to ease the pain.
Heartbreak really hurts, scientists agree
Heartbreak can be such an intense experience that some scientists suggest it feels the same as physical pain. A 2011 study found that people had similar brain activity when they viewed a photo of a former love and when they burned their arm.Trusted Source
It might even be possible to die of a broken heart. People who are in the early stages of grief are more likely to experience increased blood pressure and heart rate, which can raise their cardiovascular risk. Trusted Source
A 2018 study found that widows and widowers were 41 percent more likely to die within the first 6 months after losing their spouse. The researchers suspect this was a result of a 53 percent increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Trusted Source Tragically, heartbreak came at the expense of their actual hearts.