Can your heart literally ache?

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I've never known if this is supposed to be a metaphorical expression or what but mine's aching and it literally hurts... I mean physically hurts and that.

Well ok of course it can if you get like heart attacks and all that but I mean in the case of emotional pain...

And is this serious or just a damn nuisance? lol should I consult a doctor if I keep getting heart aches or what? At least I think this is more physically painful than usual...

Last edited by samtoo on 06 Nov 2007, 10:22 am, edited 1 time in total.

id say so

Yes, it can certainly happen and is a sign of grief.

I experience most strong emotions as physical pain. I've felt grief so bad in the past that I was literally ill and could not eat.

Yes, me too. When I first left home to study, some bad things happened and within the space of a month, I went from 52 kg to 43 kg and the ribs were sticking out and some people thought I had anorexia but it wasn't because I didn't think I was too fat. The same kind of thing happened when I started work and got bullied.

I'm one of them aspie freaks who obviously absolutely hates emotional pain but finds some physical pain rather intriguing... maybe in this case it's a break from the full on out emotional pain... a rather cheap and low temporary thrill.

It ain't broken though... at least I don't think it is... even if it is I'd never admit it because I'm an awkward arrogant sod. My fault >< lol

I'll trade you my toothache for your heartache. How can a man spend $1,600 on one tooth, and STILL have it hurt? Geez, it was better before the dentist even touched it. Oh, to have my fairly painless cavity back!

[/painrant]

Last edited by Ragtime on 06 Nov 2007, 11:52 am, edited 1 time in total.

That sucks Ragtime... must've really p*ssed you off...
Sorry buddy...
Keep your hands off my heartache. It's mine.
lol

I wouldn't mind, except now I'm totally out of money -- so if this pain gets extreme, he'd better do whatever's necessary for free! Either that, or my fist can give him a toothache!

Yes, your heart can literally hurt physically. It is called "Angina" brought on by physical exertion when your heart fails to get
enough oxygen that it needs to pump effectively.

But, if your heart aches due to an emotional relationship and "love," well that is an entirely different story.

The heart can accelerate its pumprate in response to adrenaline, which is released as part of the fight-or-flight response. But sadness has to do with serotonin levels in the limbic system. So if you heart physically aches, you might very well have heartburn. But if it persists you should se a doctor. Ive always wondered where people got the weird and erroneous idea that the heart was the center of emotion.

There's but one possible explanation. I'm sure Google has plenty more where that came from.

A lot of heartache can be related to the incredible fear of losing someone you love; the fear of being alone. It can make you quite fearful. I suppose the anxiety it causes could cause heart pain, although I think a lot of it is psychosomatic. I definitely have felt pain in my chest at such times. Then again, it could be heartburn...excess stomach acid caused by stress.

Although, to call it heart-pain would be only half of the story...in the past I have felt as though my entire torso had been torn open, exposing all of my organs; then as if I had battery acid poured into the wound.

Anxiety results in tthe neuroendocrine release of catecholamines into the bloodstream which stimulate the heart. Keep in mind that the heart is a muscle. Anxiety and anger often trigger changes in muscle tone in the arms, legs, and stomach as well.
Sexual arrousal certainly does increase the heart rate. Ive found through personal experience that whenever I have an orgasm, my heart starts pounding.

Last edited by Ziyaret on 06 Nov 2007, 1:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.