# Is heartache psychosomatic?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-heartache-psychosomatic/85359>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 4, 2001, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-heartache-psychosomatic/85359 "2001-10-04T11:21:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![poohpah\_chalupa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/91b2a8/32.png) [@poohpah\_chalupa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/poohpah_chalupa)\
**Post date:** [October 4, 2001, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-heartache-psychosomatic/85359/1 "2001-10-04T11:21:12Z")

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Why does your heart hurt so much when you’re experiencing “heartache?”  
Is it actually a physical thing, like constricting of the the ventricles due to stress? Or increased blood pressure?  
Or is it psychosomatic, that, because your heart is “supposed” to ache, you will it to?