Broken heart syndrome also called stress cardiomyopathy or takotsubo cardiomyopathy, is a real condition. It is caused by a sudden physical or emotional stress like grief or after a break-up. Broken heart syndrome is also called stress cardiomyopathy or Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Takotsubo is the Japanese name for an octopus trapping pot with a wide bottom and narrow neck. The pot resembles the shape of the distressed left ventricle of the heart seen in this condition.