The broken heart syndrome, or Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, can impact women exclusively–especially post menopause. Years of gender-based research have shown that in matters of the heart, sex differences abound. It is a temporary heart condition first described in 1990 in Japan. More than 90% of reported cases are in women ages 58 to 75. Research suggests that up to 5% of women suspected of having a heart attack actually have this disorder. Most people recover with no long-term heart damage.