What Is Broken Heart Syndrome on B&B?

When Grace diagnosed Taylor with broken heart syndrome on The Bold & The Beautiful , it’s perfectly understandable if viewers laughed at the name and assumed it was one of those made-up soap opera diseases. But while not as serious as the heart failure Taylor thought that she had, broken heart syndrome is a very real condition!

Also known as stress cardiomyopathy, broken heart syndrome symptoms can mimic those of a heart attack and include chest pain and shortness of breath. The condition is caused by undue stress affecting the heart and temporarily reducing the flow of blood through the large or small arteries. The stress hormones can also affect the heart muscle and make it beat more forcefully.

Broken heart syndrome can be caused by a sudden illness, major surgery, a broken bone, or grieving the loss of a loved one or other stressful situations. It is also more common in women than men and in people over 50. Normally, recovery is quick and there are usually no long-term effects. Treatments can include beta blockers or similar medicines to prevent the stress hormones from affecting the heart. Also, stress management is important to prevent another episode of broken heart syndrome.

Taylor’s initial diagnosis was heart failure and she had resigned herself to the fact that she was dying, reconnecting with her family before the end. But now that Ridge convinced her to get a second opinion and they’ve discovered that isn’t the case, everything is going to change. Taylor claimed to be happy that Brooke and Ridge are back together, but she also confessed to her ex that he was the love of her life. Might she try to heal her broken heart by getting Ridge back?

Stay tuned to B&B to see how this storyline continues to unfold!