Broken Heart Syndrome, A Real Medical Condition

Yes, broken heart syndrome is a real medical condition but unlike the broken hearts some people experienced on Valentine's Day, this kind of health disorder needs immediate attention as it has similar symptoms with the heart attack.

According to Science Daily, the broken heart syndrome is a result from highly stressful or emotional situations. People who experienced a divorce, the death of a spouse, a serious medical diagnosis or significant financial problems have a high likelihood of experiencing the illness.

The Press Herald named it as the 'widow effect' as the disorder is common among widows who have lost their loved ones. The news outlet cited the case of Dorothy Guay, 88, who has been stressed since her husband passed away.

"It's pretty common for us to meet a patient in the hospital who has gotten much more ill right on the heels of their spouse passing away. It sounds like she was acutely depressed after the loss of her spouse. Certainly you see people lose their will to live and things can go quickly after that," Dr. Doug Sawyer, chief of cardiac services at Maine Medical Center said talking about Dorothy's case.

What triggers this condition? Science Daily said that this often happen when our body will try to fight or ward off negative emotions from our system by releasing adrenalin or stress hormones that may imperil the heart. Earliest symptoms of the disorder are the person's difficulty in breathing and the presence of chest pains.

"Like a heart attack, broken heart syndrome can be very alarming to patients. But unlike a heart attack, broken heart syndrome usually is reversible, with no long-lasting effects on the heart muscle. Most affected individuals regain cardiac function within a short period of time," Cardiologist, Dr. Sara Sirna from the Loyola University Health System cardiologist said.

Youth Health also said that possible physical problems that may lead to this condition such as severe asthma, surgery, chemotherapy, or stroke can lead to this health condition.

The heart attack syndrome has other more formal names such as the takotsubo cardiomyopathy, stress-induced cardiomyopathy, or transient apical ballooning syndrome.

It is named 'takotsubo cardiomyopathy' as the heart is said to be shaped like an octopus (tako tsubo) when the two lower chambers of the heart weakens and start to balloon outwards. This also results in the poor blood and oxygen circulation in the body.

People who are affected with the broken heart syndrome are mostly women who are over 50. Younger men and women may also experience the symptoms but not likely.