system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why is there a physical response/pain (ie: chest compression, heart aches, etc) when a person has endured an emotional heart break or extreme sadness. Just read about Broken Heart Syndrome, but how does this physiologically happen?
gpt
Mainly due to stress. Epinephrine and Norepinephrine is released in your body giving you the "flight or fight" response. Other hormones such as cortisol also contribute to this. This results in blood being drawn away from your stomach and pumped more into your muscles, because during times of stress, your body is more focused on your somatic (muscles) response rather than digestion. This lack of blood in your stomach gives you that "sick to the stomach" kind of pain.