Episode Details

A broken heart is never just emotional—it can become deeply physical. Nurse practitioner Jessica Love shares her powerful journey from ICU nurse to patient after experiencing stress-induced cardiomyopathy, also known as "broken heart syndrome," during her clinical training. What began as subtle symptoms of fatigue and chest pressure quickly escalated into a life-threatening cardiac event, reshaping everything she thought she knew about stress, health, and healing.

Her recovery became a turning point, shifting her focus from treating disease in the ICU to preventing it through whole-person care. In this conversation with Dr. Michelle Robin and Bayleigh Soza, Jessica explores how chronic stress impacts the heart, why women's symptoms are often missed, and how nervous system regulation, awareness, and daily habits can transform long-term heart health.

Key Takeaways:

• Broken heart syndrome can occur unexpectedly when chronic or emotional stress overwhelms the body, even in young and healthy individuals.

• Stress often shows up physically before it is emotionally recognized, with symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath, and reduced energy.

• The heart and nervous system are deeply connected, meaning emotional regulation directly influences cardiovascular health and resilience.

• Women's heart symptoms are frequently subtle and can be overlooked, making awareness of early warning signs especially important.

• Daily practices like gratitude, movement, sleep, nutrition, and nervous