We\u2019ve all heard the phrase \u201cbroken heart\u201d tossed around in songs, movies, and romantic novels. It\u2019s usually poetic, dramatic, and often exaggerated. But did you know a broken heart can actually, medically, happen? Yes, your heart can literally feel so overwhelmed that it acts as if it\u2019s having a heart attack. It\u2019s called Broken Heart Syndrome \u2013 or if you want to get fancy, Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (try saying that three times fast).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, what exactly is broken heart syndrome, and should you be worried that watching Titanic for the hundredth time could land you in the hospital? Let\u2019s take a look at the science, symptoms, and solutions \u2013 all without making you feel like you\u2019re studying for a biology exam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is broken heart syndrome?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Broken heart syndrome is a real medical condition where extreme emotional or physical stress causes the heart to malfunction temporarily. It mimics a heart attack but without the artery blockage. The left ventricle (the main pumping chamber) suddenly weakens and takes on a strange balloon-like shape \u2013 hence the Japanese term \u201cTakotsubo\u201d, which refers to an octopus trap shaped like the stressed-out heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Dr Pieter van Wyk, a cardiologist practising at Netcare Sunninghill and Netcare Sunward Park hospitals, \u201cWhile we are all familiar with the notion of \u2018dying of a broken heart\u2019, which is commonly referred to in many literary works, broken heart syndrome is in actual fact a condition that has been well researched and documented in the medical world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He adds, \u201cHowever, while in fictitious terms it most often refers to heartbreak resulting from romantic betrayal, rejection or loss \u2013 from a medical perspective stress cardiomyopathy is most often triggered by intense physical or emotional stress resulting from various stressors. This typically includes intense emotional and\/or physical trauma such as being diagnosed with a serious medical condition, a motor vehicle accident or the news of a family member passing away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n How do you know your heart\u2019s had enough?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The symptoms of broken heart syndrome are eerily similar to those of a heart attack. We\u2019re talking:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Chest pain (the dramatic clutch-your-heart kind you see in films)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Shortness of breath<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Rapid heartbeat<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Feeling faint or dizzy<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s enough to make anyone panic, which is why people often rush to the hospital thinking they\u2019re having a classic heart attack. The good news? Unlike a heart attack, broken heart syndrome doesn\u2019t usually involve permanent damage to the heart. It\u2019s temporary and often reversible with proper treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr Van Wyk explains, \u201cIn most cases the condition involves a balloon-like effect occurring in the apex, the lower end of the heart, and for this reason, it is often also referred to as apical ballooning syndrome. People in whom the condition manifests itself generally experience sudden, intense chest pain and shortness of breath, which are similar symptoms to those experienced during a heart attack. However, stress cardiomyopathy is in fact a completely different condition.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Who\u2019s most at risk?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n While anyone can experience broken heart syndrome, research indicates that the condition is most prevalent in older people between the ages of 62 and 75, with more than 80% of patients being women. Hormones \u2013 particularly oestrogen \u2013 are thought to play a role, which might explain why women are more susceptible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr Van Wyk highlights that the condition can also be linked to specific traumatic events. He recalls working in Christchurch, New Zealand, when 21 women presented with stress cardiomyopathy after the devastating earthquake in February 2011. \u201cWhile the heart condition they suffered did not result in any fatalities and was transient in nature in most of the cases, the condition re-occurred at least three times in one of the patients,\u201d he notes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, can you die from it?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Not to sound dramatic, but yes, in rare cases, broken heart syndrome can be fatal. Dr Van Wyk cautions that during the acute phase, stress cardiomyopathy seems to be just as severe as a heart attack and can lead to serious heart problems. \u201cIt may, for example, lead to further heart rhythm problems that cause the heart to beat much faster or slower than normal. It can also result in heart failure, i.e. the heart underperforms in pumping enough blood through the body. The worst-case scenario is that the heart failure could result in death. However, if the acute phase is survived then almost every person with stress cardiomyopathy recovers completely within one to four weeks,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The good news? With the right care, most people recover fully, but Dr Van Wyk emphasises the importance of seeking medical attention for proper testing to rule out coronary artery disease and determine the exact cause of symptoms.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We\u2019ve all heard the phrase \u201cbroken heart\u201d tossed around in songs, movies, and romantic novels.…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":1746,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1745","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/evah-online.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1745","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/evah-online.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/evah-online.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/evah-online.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/evah-online.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1745"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/evah-online.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1745\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1747,"href":"https:\/\/evah-online.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1745\/revisions\/1747"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/evah-online.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1746"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/evah-online.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1745"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/evah-online.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1745"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/evah-online.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1745"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}