Name: How your emotions change the shape of your heart
Uploaded: 2019-09-10T20:09:29Z
Duration: 15 min 52 s
Description: "A record of our emotional life is written on our hearts," says cardiologist and author Sandeep Jauhar. In a stunning talk, he explores the mysterious ways our emotions impact the health of our hearts -- causing them to change shape in response to grief or fear, to literally break in response to emotional heartbreak -- and calls for a shift in how we care for our most vital organ.

"A record of our emotional life is written on our hearts," says cardiologist and author Sandeep Jauhar. In a stunning talk, he explores the mysterious ways our emotions impact the health of our hearts -- causing them to change shape in response to grief or fear, to literally break in response to emotional heartbreak -- and calls for a shift in how we care for our most vital organ.

Emotions can cause real, physical changes to the heart, sometimes leading to a condition known as 'broken heart syndrome.' After a loved one's death or a major stressor, the heart can weaken and balloon into an unusual shape, as seen in medical scans. This phenomenon is not just poetic—it can result in heart failure, dangerous arrhythmias, or even death. Modern science shows that managing emotional stress is as vital to heart health as diet or exercise.