Beyond heartbreak: How anger, fear and shock can temporarily stun the heart

Intense grief is not the only emotion that can affect the heart -- extreme anger, fear or shock can temporarily weaken the heart's pumping ability, triggering a rare condition known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy or "broken heart syndrome", experts said. Usually associated with a sudden surge of stress hormones following an intense emotional or physical event, the condition can be triggered by bereavement, relationship breakdown or extreme anger, highlighting the complex link between emotional stre