Shocking news, such as learning of the unexpected death of a loved one, has been known to cause catastrophic events, such as a heart attack. Now, researchers at Johns Hopkins have discovered that sudden emotional stress can also result in severe but reversible heart muscle weakness that mimics a classic heart attack.  Patients with this condition, called stress cardiomyopathy but known colloquially as “broken heart” syndrome, are often misdiagnosed with a massive heart attack when, indeed, they have suffered from a days-long surge in adrenalin (epinephrine) and other stress hormones that temporarily “stun” the heart.

Source: http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/press_releases/2005/02_10_05.html