Have you ever thought that this feeling is in fact a medically diagnosed condition with its own symptoms, complications, causes, and methods of treatment? Have you ever thought that feeling this lump in the heart is caused by a temporary cardiomyopathy due to several factors and causes? We will learn about all of this in detail in this article.
What is Broken Heart Syndrome? And What Are Its Symptoms?
Broken heart syndrome was first described by a Japanese cardiologist. In 1990, it was common to use the word "Takotsubo" to refer to this syndrome, which is a Japanese word that means octopus-trapping pot. The reason for this choice of name is the similarity between the shape of the affected heart muscle and this pot, known for its narrow neck and wide bottom. This is exactly the shape that the broken heart muscle takes as a result of left ventricular hypertrophy.
The work of the left side of the heart is disrupted after the injury, and this is what strains the rest of the heart muscle and forces it to make an extra effort to compensate for this deficiency. This naturally affects the heart's normal ability to pump blood. Broken heart syndrome occurs after going through bad emotional experiences or exposure to harsh conditions that require dealing with a torrent of emotions that exhaust and break the heart. This makes the patient feel severe pain, as if they are about to have a heart attack.
This syndrome may also occur after a serious surgery or as a result of a specific type of serious physical disease. Broken heart syndrome does not affect the entire work of the heart muscle; rather, its effect is limited to only one part of it, and this effect causes a temporary disruption of the normal heart function in pumping blood. Therefore, broken heart syndrome is a temporary heart condition that occurs most of the time after exposure to situations that cause psychological stress or after intense physical exertion.
Broken heart syndrome is not the only name for this condition. It may also be called by one of the following names: stress cardiomyopathy, takotsubo cardiomyopathy (mentioned earlier as it means octopus-trap pot), or apical hypertrophy syndrome.
Symptoms of Broken Heart Syndrome
The symptoms of this syndrome are similar to the symptoms of a heart attack. They include persistent chest pain and shortness of breath. It is worth noting that any chest pain may be an indication of a heart attack, so don't be complacent and call your doctor for advice or call 911 in cases of severe pain.
And here we must think of the following question: "How can I tell this syndrome apart from a heart attack?" As mentioned above, this syndrome affects only a part of the heart, and although the blood flow in the arteries is limited, complete blockage does not occur, but in the case of a heart attack, a complete or almost complete blockage of one of the arteries occurs.
The above symptoms are accompanied by some other signs, such as a slight increase in the heart enzyme, sweating, dizziness, fainting, vomiting, weakness, and swelling of the left ventricle. Symptoms often appear within minutes to hours after exposure to the stimulus that caused the intense emotional response that led to the secretion of stress hormones, causing a temporary weakness of the heart muscle.
It is normal for many temporary changes to occur in the heart muscle after contracting the syndrome. For example, we note:
- An irregular heartbeat; this is because the normal and steady rhythm of the heartbeat is disrupted.
- The lower part of the left ventricle is temporarily enlarged as well.
- Contractions more powerful than normal in areas of the heart.
What Are the Causes of Broken Heart Syndrome?
It is likely that a surge of stress hormones that cause temporary damage to the heart muscles is the direct cause. For the record, these hormones are secreted by the body in order to deal with the stress that occurs as a result of many factors and conditions that a person goes through during their life.
The truth is that the causes have not yet been precisely defined, and all we mention are possible causes. It is also possible that temporary narrowing in the small or large arteries of the heart may cause this syndrome, and taking certain medications, even in rare cases, can also be a cause of injury. This includes the drugs used when severe asthma attacks occur and anxiety medications.
It is worth noting that broken heart syndrome most of the time occurs after exposure to severe emotional or physical fatigue; it may occur after severe asthma attacks, as a result of infection with the COVID-19 virus, or after surgery, and when going through situations that cause severe emotional responses, such as death, accidents, divorce, heated discussions, physical or verbal abuse, or sudden loss of property or money.
Cases of extreme joy, such as the overwhelming happiness that a person feels when a loved one returns from travel or wins the lottery, may cause this syndrome. Broken heart syndrome is more common in women than men, and risk factors and injury increase after 50 years and in people with depression.
The incidence of women between the ages of 58 and 75 is 88.3% of the total infected cases. According to a study conducted by American researchers, 36% of the causes are physical, 27.7% are due to trauma, and in 28.5% of injuries, no triggers were found.
In general, there are no serious complications of this syndrome, and it is often cured within weeks or less without any side effects, as indicated by a cardiologist. Despite that, there are some complications that should be mentioned, such as heart failure and blood clots as a result of weak heart muscle, low blood pressure, pulmonary edema, and arrhythmia.
To avoid developing the syndrome again in the future, doctors recommend treatment with beta-blockers or alternative medications aimed at preventing the effects of stress that damage the heart muscle.
How Is Broken Heart Syndrome Diagnosed and Treated?
Due to the similarity between the symptoms of this syndrome and the symptoms of a heart attack, the diagnosis may be confusing, and at first, the patient's medical history must be confirmed, and many questions must be asked regarding the nature of the conditions that the patient is going through during this period.
In order to ensure the accuracy of the diagnosis, it is necessary to use well-known methods of diagnosis, like:
- ECG to record the heart's electrical activity and check heart rhythm.
- A blood test that enables the doctor to check for enzymes present that indicate damage to the heart muscle.
- Echocardiogram to look for inflammation, whether in the heart or nearby vessels.
- It is also possible to do imaging of the blood vessels, veins, and heart chambers.
Treatment
Treatment varies according to the severity of symptoms, and in general, treatment includes heart medications and cardiac rehabilitation medications, in addition to medications that reduce stress and anxiety.
In terms of prevention, there is no specific medicine or treatment that prevents the development of the syndrome. Of course, there are several recommendations regarding how to manage stress and ways to deal with crises and difficult situations in a way that makes it lighter on our hearts.
As it became clear, this syndrome occurs after our bodies are exposed to psychological or physical stress, and to avoid this, we can follow the following tips:
- Learn relaxation techniques such as yoga to give our bodies time to rest and meditate away from life's endless stresses and problems.
- Engage in activities, like journaling, that assist in removing the negative ideas that annoy, irritate, and aggravate our misery.
- Get frequent exercise; a lot of research has shown how important sports are for enhancing people's physical and mental well-being, and this is really what everyone needs to confront life.
- Lead a healthy lifestyle, which includes eating wholesome meals that give our body energy and movement and receiving enough sleep.
- Every now and then, take a warm bath while indulging in the fragrant scents of herbs that help the body unwind.
In conclusion
The emotional source of the damage is why this illness is also known as "broken heart syndrome." Consequently, you should never undervalue the difficulties you are going through. Rather than ignoring or repressing your emotions, you should learn how to deal with them head-on so that, when the going gets tough, they do not weigh you down to the point that your heart breaks.
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