Broken heart syndrome is a real condition, and is sometimes referred to as stress-induced cardiomyopathy or takotsubo cardiomyopathy. The condition comes with shortness of breath and chest pain. As the name implies, it can be caused by intense emotional stress that affects one of the heart’s pumping chambers. Stressful events, including a breakup, the death of a loved one, sudden financial hardship, or an unexpected accident, can act as triggers. While in rare instances broken heart syndrome can be fatal, most people recover within weeks.