Yes, grief significantly affects the heart by triggering stress hormones that increase heart rate, blood pressure, and clotting, raising the risk of heart attack or stroke, and can even cause temporary heart muscle weakness known as "broken heart syndrome" (Takotsubo cardiomyopathy). This intense emotional stress impacts the entire cardiovascular system, leading to physical symptoms like chest pain and breathlessness, with risks persisting long-term due to neglected self-care and chronic stress.
The heart muscle can be overwhelmed by a massive amount of adrenaline that is suddenly produced in response to stress. Excess adrenaline can cause narrowing of the small arteries that supply the heart with blood, causing a temporary decrease in blood flow to the heart.
Research to date has shown that, like many other stressors, grief frequently leads to changes in the endocrine, immune, autonomic nervous, and cardiovascular systems; all of these are fundamentally influenced by brain function and neurotransmitters.
Sadness or depression
You may feel low, tearful or isolated. You might spend time reflecting on the past. Or you might find it hard to think about the future, or feel like things are hopeless. In some cases, this might include experiencing suicidal feelings.
A person with a broken heart often has episodes of sobbing, rage, and despair. They may not eat or sleep for days and may also neglect their personal hygiene. A few may repress their feelings so that they do not have to face the pain of the loss, which may cause panic, anxiety, and depression a few months later.
Broken Heart Syndrome, or Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy, is a phenomenon where intense emotional or physical stress shocks the heart. The name “Takotsubo” comes from the Japanese term for octopus trap, which resembles the ballooning shape of the heart's left ventricle in Takotsubo.
Mashburn says that a breakup can cause us to feel physical sensations like anxiety attacks, changes in eating and sleeping habits, stomach issues, and fatigue. The physical symptoms often coincide with the mental issues, making a break-up feel both physically and emotionally draining.
Grief has a way of creeping into our muscles, especially in areas like the shoulders, neck, and jaw. You may have been carrying this tension for so long that you don't even notice it anymore. But as you begin to release, you might feel these areas soften.
HOW GRIEF CHANGES US FOR NOW: Changes in sleep, eating, and overall energy. Personality changes like being more irritable, less patient, or no longer having the tolerance for other people's “small” problems. Forgetfulness, trouble concentrating and focusing.
When grieving, don't suppress emotions, isolate yourself, rush the process, or use substances to numb pain; instead, allow yourself to feel, stay connected with supportive people, and seek professional help if needed, as grief has no timeline and everyone experiences it uniquely. Avoid platitudes like "everything happens for a reason" or "they're in a better place," and don't make major decisions too soon. Focus on self-care, even if it's basic, and accept that grief is messy, not linear.
Signs and symptoms of complicated grief may include:
During grief, the HPA axis can become overactive, leading to the prolonged release of stress hormones such as cortisol. Cortisol: Often referred to as the “stress hormone,” cortisol helps the body respond to stressful situations.
Strategies and Tips for Grieving
If you're wondering, “How long does grief exhaustion last?” you're not alone. Many people feel drained, foggy, and worn out for weeks or even months after a loss. This kind of exhaustion isn't a sign of weakness or something to rush through—it's part of the healing process.
What can bring grief to a heart? Grief can be brought to a heart by loss, disappointment, betrayal, and hurtful words.
Broken heart syndrome is a heart condition that's often brought on by stressful situations and extreme emotions. The condition also can be triggered by a serious physical illness or surgery. Broken heart syndrome is usually temporary. But some people may continue to feel unwell after the heart is healed.
You are no longer the same person—and inevitably, some of your relationships will feel different too. The truth is, grief doesn't just take away; it reshapes. One of the most overlooked aspects of grieving is redefining who you are after losing someone deeply cherished.
The 40-day period holds spiritual and cultural meaning in many traditions, often symbolizing a time of reflection, remembrance, and honoring the soul's journey. Emotions during this time may shift—from initial shock to deeper sorrow or quiet acceptance—as the reality of the loss settles in.
Wise Choices
Everyday Signs That Trauma Might Still Be Stored
Someone might struggle with sleep, snap at a loved one without understanding why, or catch themselves zoning out in meetings. These moments might be brushed off as stress, fatigue, or personality, but they can reflect deeper layers of emotion still carried within.
The physical impact of grief
Grief can reinforce brain wiring that effectively locks the brain in a permanent stress response, Shulman said. To promote healthy rewiring, people need to strengthen the parts of the brain that can regulate that response.
Heartbreak isn't just emotional; it's a physical experience. The brain's response to emotional pain mirrors that of physical injury, releasing stress hormones that ripple through our entire being.
Depression is a disorder of the brain, a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behavior, feelings, and sense of well-being and can cause alteration in sympathetic activity of the body, thus affecting heart rate variability (HRV).
The Five Signs encouraged people to ask if they or their loved ones were not feeling themselves, feeling withdrawn, feeling agitated, feeling hopeless or not caring for themselves. A longtime mental health advocate, Broderick discovered the program and introduced it to New Hampshire.