5 ways heartbreak affects the body
CNN • • general
Key Points:
- Heartbreak affects over 80% of people and can cause both emotional and physical pain, often described as chest crushing or stomach knots, according to psychiatrist Dr. Yoram Yovell.
- The brain processes emotional pain similarly to physical pain, with overlapping neural regions activated during heartbreak, and in rare cases, it can trigger "broken heart syndrome," a temporary heart condition.
- Emotional pain serves an evolutionary purpose by motivating individuals to maintain important social bonds, with early-life attachments influencing adult responses to loss and heartbreak.
- The brain releases endorphins, natural painkillers, through social connection and physical exercise, which help alleviate the distress caused by heartbreak.
- Some treatments for physical pain, like acetaminophen and low
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