Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is also know as broken-heart syndrome, and is thought to be caused by a surge of stress hormones.
There have been a number of headlines about the husband of a teacher who was shot during the events that occurred in Uvalde, Texas earlier this week.
The man, named Joe Garcia, suffered a heart attack.
As these stories come out, some may be wondering if you can actually die from a 'broken-heart' and whether it is a medically recognised condition.
Here is are all of the key facts that you may want to know about broken-heart syndrome.
What is broken-heart syndrome?
Broken-heart syndrome is called takotsubo cardiomyopathy, according to Harvard, and is a temporary heart condition caused by severe emotional or physical stress.
It is very rare and is thought to be more common in women than it is in men, it affects just part of the heart, temporarily disrupting the heart's usual pumping function, say the Mayo Clinic.
It can last days or possibly weeks and is also known as stress cardiomyopathy or apical ballooning syndrome.
How is it caused?
The condition is thought to be caused through a surge of stress hormones and can be brought on by a traumatic event, including unexpected loss.
Other causes can include severe pain, an asthma attack, or a sudden drop in blood pressure.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of the condition include sudden chest pain or a shortness of breath and can mimic the symptoms of a heart attack.
Can you die from it?
Both Harvard and the Mayo Clinic say that most will recover within a month, however blood clots and heart failure are both listed as possible complications from the condition.
Mayo Clinic researchers also say: "Broken heart syndrome may occur again after another stressful event. However, the odds of this happening are low."
Is there treatment?
On top of improved management of emotional stress, beta blockers or similar medications can be used to reduce the effects of broken-heart syndrome.
However, there is no standard treatment for broken-heart syndrome as it can depend on severity as well as an individual's situation, for example; if the person has low blood pressure they would be more likely to receive beta blockers.
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