What is the impact of negative emotions on heart health? Consider fractured heart syndrome, also known as stress cardiomyopathy. According to studies, the chance of a heart attack increases 21-fold within 24 hours of a loved one's death. Aside from the loss of a loved one, the heart can be damaged by various shocks. Stress cardiomyopathy can develop as a result of stressful news, such as the cancer diagnosis of a loved one. Strong emotions, such as rage, can also lead to abnormal heart rhythms. Stress can also be bad for your heart. When you're stressed, your blood pressure and heart rate both rise. Chronic stress causes your body to produce harmful quantities of stress chemicals like cortisol, which can alter the way blood clots. All of these things can lead to a heart attack or a stroke. Negative emotions can influence one's lifestyle behaviors, which can lead to a rise in obesity.