Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Medic reveals best 'cure' to mend broken heart

Heartbreak is a common and often distressing experience that results from intense emotional pain.

Medic reveals best 'cure' to mend broken heart

A broken heart is a medical issue that is commonly caused by stressful events and intense feelings. It may also arise from severe physical health problems or medical procedures.

Although this syndrome is typically a short-lived condition, some individuals may still experience discomfort even after their heart has recovered.


One physician claims that a broken heart not only causes emotional distress but can also result in ‘physical pain,’ the Daily Mail reports.

47-year-old, Chun Tang, a general practitioner from Lytham, Lancashire, states that the effects of heartbreak can manifest in various forms. These may include headaches, loss of appetite, sleep deprivation, lethargy, and discomfort in muscles and joints.

What is heartbreak?

“Essentially, it is a state of devastating emotional loss,” explains behavioural psychologist and relationship coach, Jo Hemmings in an earlier report in the BBC.

He is quoted as saying, “While different for all of us, the intense feelings of sadness, grief, and the overwhelming sense of never being able to get past the pain, are common.

“In brain terms, the areas responsible for feeling physical pain ‘light up’ in the same way as if you’re actually in pain. It also triggers withdrawal symptoms very similar to those seen in (drug) addicts.”

Contrary to popular belief that a broken heart is only associated with the end of a romantic relationship, therapist Jenna Palumbo, LCPC, told Healthline that grief can be complicated and encompass a range of events.

The loss of a loved one, job termination, career transition, and even the end of a close friendship can lead to feelings of heartbreak and a sense that one's world has changed irrevocably.

Heartbreak is a common and often distressing experience that results from intense emotional pain.

In response to heartache, the body releases the hormone adrenaline, causing the ‘fight-or-flight’ response, an automatic physiological reaction to a stressful event, thereby suppressing appetite or the desire for food.

Stress and nervousness can also reportedly induce symptoms like muscle tension headaches and difficulty sleeping.

Experiencing a broken heart can be a devastating event. But to get over heartbreak, Dr Chun Tang suggests that indulging in junk food such as pizza and cake is not the answer. In fact, he recommends avoiding these foods entirely.

Dr Tang, who is medical director at Pall Mall Medical, a private healthcare provider, recommends avoiding comfort foods that are high in processed ingredients and refined carbohydrates.

Instead, the expert suggests consuming fresh fruits, vegetables, and fish as they have the potential to ‘boost mood.’

Omega-3 fatty acids/fruits & veggies

Studies have indicated that the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish can enhance the functioning of the cerebral cortex, which is responsible for processing emotions related to pleasure and contentment.

Additionally, a research study involving 80,000 participants conducted by the University of Warwick found that individuals who consumed more fruits and vegetables reported higher levels of happiness.

Foods to avoid

'Avoid processed foods and refined carbohydrates — they'll just make you feel sluggish and tired,’ Dr Tang adds.

Foods that reportedly fall under the category of refined carbohydrates include white bread, pizza crust, pasta, baked goods, white flour, white rice, sugary desserts, and various types of breakfast cereals.

Dr Tang also advises avoiding fatty and fried foods that are rich in trans fats, a type of unhealthy fat, such as burgers, French fries, and Chinese takeout dishes.

According to the British Dietetic Association (BDA), a deficiency in foods that contain essential nutrients like folic acid found in leafy greens and legumes and selenium found in seafood and Brazil nuts can result in feelings of fatigue.

The BDA also acknowledges that carb-heavy foods may have a positive impact, but only if they provide a sense of comfort to an individual.

Dr Tang recommends that those who have recently gone through a heartbreak should not keep their feelings to themselves and instead should express their emotions to their friends, family, or even their employer.

He adds, ‘Take time for yourself and talk to your close friends and family about your situation. It’s important to discuss these feelings – preferably with a healthcare expert.

‘Sometimes, medication can put people through difficult times and help them see the light again.

‘Don’t push things as this will only lead to more stress and prolong your symptoms.

‘If you’re really struggling, talk to your employer about making some reasonable adjustments to your work to make sure you’re not under too much pressure.’

More For You

Ping Pong restaurant chain shuts all UK branches

The chain had also gained a following for its themed brunches

iStock

Ping Pong restaurant chain shuts all UK branches after 20 years

Key points

  • Chinese dim sum restaurant Ping Pong has closed all its UK locations
  • The chain made the announcement via social media
  • Founded in 2005, the brand thanked customers and staff for their support
  • Loyal diners shared memories and disappointment in the comments

All branches are permanently closed

Chinese restaurant chain Ping Pong has permanently closed all its branches in the UK, the company confirmed in a social media announcement.

Founded in 2005 by restaurateur Kurt Zdesar, the dim sum chain had become popular for its stylish interiors, creative menus, and Asian-inspired cocktails. The company did not provide prior notice of the closure but said the decision marked the end of an “unforgettable” 20-year journey.

Keep ReadingShow less
New Covid strain

Experts have raised concerns about the immune-evasive nature of the Stratus strain

iStock

New Covid strain Stratus spreads in UK with unusual hoarse voice symptom

Key points

  • A new Covid strain known as Stratus is spreading across the UK
  • The variant is marked by a distinctive symptom: a hoarse or raspy voice
  • Sub-variants XFG and XFG.3 now account for 30% of cases in England
  • Experts say there is no evidence of more severe disease
  • Lower immunity levels may make more people vulnerable to infection

Covid variant Stratus on the rise in the UK

A new strain of Covid-19, known as Stratus, is spreading across the UK and drawing attention for its unusual symptom — a hoarse or raspy voice. According to data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Stratus and its two sub-variants, XFG and XFG.3, are responsible for around 30 per cent of Covid cases in England.

Of the two, XFG.3 is currently the more dominant. The UKHSA confirmed that monitoring of all circulating Covid-19 variants is ongoing as part of regular surveillance.

Keep ReadingShow less
Human brain continues forming neurons

Neurogenesis, the process by which new neurons form in the brain

iStock

Human brain continues forming neurons well into old age, study finds

Key points

  • New neurons continue forming in the brain’s hippocampus into old age
  • Study confirms presence of neural progenitor cells in adults
  • DNA carbon dating and single-nucleus RNA sequencing were used
  • Research shows variation in neuron production between individuals
  • Findings could aid treatments for neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders

Human brain shows ongoing neuron formation into older age

A new study has confirmed that the human brain continues to produce new nerve cells well into late adulthood, challenging previous assumptions about age-related decline in neurogenesis. The findings, published in the journal Science, provide fresh insight into how adaptable the brain remains over a lifetime.

Neurogenesis, the process by which new neurons form in the brain, is known to occur in the hippocampus — a region involved in memory. While previous research has suggested that this process continues throughout life, there has been limited concrete evidence of the presence of neural progenitor cells in the adult brain.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kent County Show 2025

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, who grew up in Brenchley

Getty Images

Kent County Show opens with royal visit from Duchess of Edinburgh

Key points:

  • Day one of the Kent County Show begins at Detling Showground near Maidstone
  • The Duchess of Edinburgh visits the event for the first time in 16 years
  • Organisers expect up to 70,000 visitors over the weekend
  • Farming and rural life are at the centre of the three-day programme
  • Highlights include live camel racing, equine sports, livestock displays and more

Kent County Show opens with royal visit

The Kent County Show returned to Detling near Maidstone on Friday, marking the start of a major three-day celebration of farming, food, and rural living. The event opened with a special visit from the Duchess of Edinburgh, who is attending for the first time in 16 years.

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, who grew up in Brenchley near Tunbridge Wells and serves as patron of the Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations (ASAO), met with farmers, equine exhibitors, and local businesses on her tour of the showground.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sri Aurobindo

Heehs’s biography is grounded in extensive archival research across France, England, India and Israel

AMG

Sri Aurobindo and the rise of the Asian century

Dinesh Sharma

My friend and colleague, the American historian Peter Heehs, who has lived in Pondicherry, India, for decades, recently published a compelling new biography, The Mother: A Life of Sri Aurobindo’s Collaborator (2025). Heehs previously authored The Lives of Sri Aurobindo (2008), which remains one of the most balanced and scholarly accounts of Aurobindo’s life.

According to Heehs, most previous biographies of the Mother were written for devotees and relied on secondary sources, often presenting her as a divine incarnation without critical engagement. “Such biographies are fine for those who see the Mother as a divine being,” Heehs said, “but they can be off-putting for readers who simply want to understand her life – as an artist, writer, spiritual teacher, and founder of the Ashram and Auroville.”

Keep ReadingShow less