Getting your heart broken can put you at the mercy of intense emotional pain and mental turmoil. But did you know that a broken heart can literally make your heart function abnormally like it has been physically broken? According to the American Heart Association (AHA), broken heart syndrome is also called stress-induced cardiomyopathy or Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, and can manifest even if you’re physically healthy. To understand this phenomenon the team of OnlyMyHealth spoke to Dr Ramesh Menon, Associate Director, Personal Genomics and Genomic Medicine, MedGenome.
What is The Broken Heart Syndrome?
Dr Menon said, “Broken heart syndrome is a heart condition triggered by intense emotional or physical stress. It results in a sudden weakening of the heart muscle, causing symptoms resembling a heart attack, such as chest pain and breathlessness, and potential heart rhythm abnormalities.”
Explaining further, he shared, “Stress hormones like adrenaline are believed to play a role in its development. Unlike a heart attack, it's not caused by blocked arteries.” Simplifying this, Johns Hopkins Medicine (JHM) stated that the heart muscles can be overwhelmed by the massive amount of adrenaline released by the body in response to stress, which causes the narrowing of the small arteries, causing a temporary decrease in blood flow to the heart. Additionally, the adrenaline molecules can bind to heart cells, causing huge amounts of calcium to enter these cells, preventing them from helping the heart to beat properly.
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The Harvard Medical School elucidated that more than 90% of broken heart syndrome cases have been reported among women between the ages of 58-75. They shared that as per research, almost 5% of women suspected of having a heart attack are actually suffering from a broken heart.
Treating A Broken Heart
JHM stated, ‘While most people with this condition experience a stressful event, up to 30% of patients have no identifiable trigger at the time of their initial symptoms.’ Either way, Dr Menon shared that most people recover within weeks to months with supportive care and addressing the underlying stressors. “Recurrence is rare but possible, particularly if individuals face additional episodes of severe emotional or physical stress,” he added.
Also Read: Getting over a broken heart: Loving someone who has hurt you
Listing the multi-faceted approach required to treat a broken heart, Dr Menon shared:
- Supportive care, including hospitalisation, symptom management, and heart function support.
- Medications like beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors.
- Continuous monitoring of heart function.
- Addressing the emotional or physical stressors that triggered the syndrome through psychological support or therapy.
- Regular follow-up appointments and lifestyle changes to promote heart health.
- Stress-reduction techniques to build emotional resilience.
- Genetic testing and counselling.
Concluding his advisory, Dr Menon advised seeking immediate medical attention as soon as you experience symptoms like chest pain and shortness of breath, to rule out any other serious cardiac issues. However, if it is a broken heart you are suffering from, it is crucial to minimise the use of stimulants and seek therapy to cope with emotional stressors. Consulting with a healthcare professional for personalised guidance on prevention and management is highly recommended.
