Scientists have identified why people sometimes die from a broken heart after grief or relationship breakdowns.

They found stressful life events increase levels of two molecules in heart cells which play a crucial role in the development of takotsubo cardiomyopathy – or ‘broken heart syndrome’.

The syndrome occurs when the heart muscle becomes suddenly weakened and the left heart chamber changes shape.

They found stressful life events increase levels of two molecules in heart cells which play a crucial role in the development of takotsubo cardiomyopathy – or ‘broken heart syndrome’.

The symptoms often mimic those of a heart attack and it leads to chest pains, breathlessness and can cause the heart to stop beating.

Lead author Professor Sian Harding, from Imperial College London, said: ‘Takotsubo syndrome is a serious condition, but until now the way it occurs has remained a mystery.

Professor Metin Avkiran, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation, said: ‘Takotsubo syndrome is a sudden and potentially catastrophic heart problem but our knowledge about what causes it remains limited