We’ve all heard about the “dying of a broken heart,” but did you know there’s an actual medical condition? Broken Heart Syndrome, or Takotsubo cardiomyopathy or stress-induced cardiomyopathy, happens when a person suffers from extreme emotional or physical stress that leads to an abrupt weakening of the heart muscle.
What occurs:
- The left ventricle (the major pumping chamber) will no longer function correctly for a while.
- It simulates a heart attack — pain in the chest, breathlessness, and ECG abnormalities — but the arteries are not occluded.
- Typical precipitants are sadness, heartbreak, shock, accidents, or even overwhelming joy.
Who’s at Risk:
- The majority are seen in women aged more than 50 years after extreme emotional upheaval.
- Stress hormones such as adrenaline flood through the body, momentarily paralyzing the heart muscle.
The Good News:
- In contrast with a regular heart attack, heart function typically returns within days to weeks after good treatment.
- Symptom management and stress reduction are the goals of treatment.
Prevention:
- Practice mindfulness, social support, and emotional support following trauma.
- Exercise, get enough sleep, and develop heart-healthy habits as well as build resilience.
Emotions and the heart are deeply connected, physically and metaphorically.
Have you ever noticed how stress affects your own body?
MBH/PS