I can feel it now, aching deep behind my rib cage the way it does every time we're together, beating a desperate rhythm: Love me. Love me. When you think of a broken heart, you may picture a cartoon drawing with a jagged line through it. But a real-life broken heart can actually lead to cardiac consequences. Read on for more information about how an extremely stressful event can have an impact on your heart. Tako tsubo, by the way, are octopus traps that resemble the pot-like shape of the stricken heart.

“Chelsea Hotel #2,” Leonard Cohen


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If the music we listen to is any indication, then breaking up, feeling down about it and hopefully finding the courage to move on are some of the most common shared human experiences. As centuries of forlorn singletons have learned and generations of songwriters have mastered, one of the best cures for heartbreak is the balm of music that speaks to our souls — or maybe helps us rationalize away the tears. Vincent , Lorde , Kesha and P! Below, TIME has pulled together a list of some of the most popular breakup songs on those Spotify playlists, as well as some under-the-radar favorites that might just come in handy when dealing with a broken heart. Some heartbreak is predicated on just a few powerful moments. As it turns out, Rihanna can turn on the tears just as well as she can pump up the party.
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Broken heart syndrome is a group of symptoms similar to those of a heart attack, occurring in response to a physical or emotional stress. Most people affected by broken heart syndrome think they are having a heart attack because symptoms, such as shortness of breath and chest pain, are similar in both conditions. However, those with broken heart syndrome do not have blocked coronary arteries, and usually make a fast and full recovery.
Photo by Jamez Picard on Unsplash. You meet him in a crowded bar in East London. His voice gets louder and faster when he talks about something he loves, a crescendo that builds until it breaks, an ebb and a flow. You watch his mouth as he talks. You play pop songs on the jukebox, giving each other coins and daring one another to play the worst song, the one that will make each other cringe. You go to the bathroom and you look in the mirror and you just know. When you leave the bar you look up at the sky, the dark clouds framing a yellow moon, and you gulp air into your lungs. You never stop looking for him.