Broken Heart Syndrome: the Analogy of Heartbreak
The wikipedia definition for a broken heart is ‘a metaphor for the intense emotional stress or pain one feels at experiencing great loss or deep longing’. Heartbreak is usually experienced after a breakup, loss of a loved one, or unreciprocated love. We often say to the people we love, “Please do not break my heart”. But do we actually know what heartbreak is? Can we literally have a ‘broken heart’?
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy or ‘Broken Heart Syndrome’ is a heart condition caused by severe emotional stress. Our heart has 4 chambers, the upper two called ‘atria’ and the lower two called ‘ventricles’. This disorder entails a change of shape in the left ventricle of the heart, which is its main pumping chamber. This affects the ability of the heart to pump blood efficiently throughout the body. Experts have theorised that a surge of stress hormones, for instance adrenaline or serotonin, can fundamentally ‘stun’ the heart, prompting fluctuation in coronary blood vessels or heart muscle cells that prohibit the left ventricle from contracting successfully.
Stress-induced cardiomyopathy can provoke abrupt chest pain, shortness of breath, cold sweats, unanticipated onset of fatigue, dizziness, or fainting spells. This disease can occur at any age for both men and women, although a majority of cases are reported in older women from ages 58 to 75. It is triggered by a stressful event or emotional upheaval. It can be set off by a sudden drop in blood pressure, severe physical pain, unforeseen news of tragedy, unexpected loss, or an intense dispute with a loved one.
These symptoms of Broken Heart Syndrome are almost indistinguishable from those of a heart attack, or myocardial infarction (MI). Studies show that 5% of women suffering from this illness are first suspected of having a heart attack. Even an electrocardiogram (ECG), which takes an electrical recording of your heart’s movements, may show anomalies alike to those seen in some heart attacks. To get a more conclusive diagnosis, doctors perform certain clinical tests and evaluations. A coronary angiogram is taken to scan the blood flow through the blood vessels. No indication of blockage in the coronary arteries suggests the likelihood of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, as blockage is the prime cause of heart attacks in most patients. An echocardiogram is an imaging technique which takes an ultrasound of the heart to study its shape and checks for apical ballooning in the left ventricle. It also shows abnormal movements in the ventricle walls. Additionally, blood tests can also be performed to check for levels of enzymes which could cause damage to the muscles of the heart.
There is no distinct treatment for Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, as it depends on the severity of symptoms in the patient. Doctors often recommend standard medicine for heart failure, that is beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, diuretics, or aspirin. Medication reduces stress on the heart and helps the muscle recover. Most people only need to take medications for a short period of time, but it depends on the extremity of the symptoms.
Most patients of Broken Heart Syndrome recover fully within two months, and are at very low risk of it occurring again. However, in some patients, this disease can seldom prove to be fatal, and they can truly have a ‘broken heart’.