Heart-breaking news is the first thing that comes to our mind when we think of “Broken heart”. But, there is a condition called “Broken Heart Syndrome” which needs special care and attention.

Is Broken Heart Syndrome Real?

Broken Heart Syndrome is a real and life-threatening condition. Traumatic events such as the death of a loved one or a physical injury of emotional memory can lead to this problem. This occurs when stress hormones cause short-term heart muscle failure. The condition is treatable but can be fatal. Learning about Broken Heart Syndrome can help you keep stress at bay which will help you stay calm and tension-free.

Is stress a major cause of Broken Heart Syndrome?

According to American Heart Association (AHA), a condition that is brought by sudden acute intense chest pain-causing severe short-term heart muscle failure is termed Broken Heart Syndrome. There is a sudden upsurge of stress hormones disrupting the pumping of blood on the heart. This disruption affects the left ventricle while the rest of the heart functions normally. 

Triggers or causative factors of Broken Heart Syndrome

• Emotional stress
• Sudden loss of a job
• Failure in life 
• Bad news 
• Intense fear (public speaking, robbery, or car accident)
• Financial situation 
• Broken marriage or relationship 
• Difficult relationships
• Addiction 
• Chronic health problems like cancer 
• Death of loved one 
• Physical injury or accident 
• A sudden positive event like winning a lottery

What causes Broken Heart Syndrome and the reason behind Broken Heart Syndrome?

Individuals with broken hearts typically experience symptoms for a couple of minutes to hours. The symptom is often misdiagnosed as a heart attack. With a sudden adrenaline rush and an upsurge of stress hormones, the heart goes into a state of “shock.”

The exact cause is not fully understood. When you react to emotional stress, your body releases stress hormones in your blood like adrenalin, noradrenalin, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. Experts think hormones interfere with your heart function. 

Symptoms of Broken Heart Syndrome

• Shortness of breath 
• Angina like sudden chest pain 
• The left ventricle of the heart gets affected 
• Irregular heartbeat 
• Emotional and physical trauma 
• Seizure 
• Low blood pressure 
• Low blood sugar 
• Fainting or dizziness 

Diagnosis of Broken Heart Syndrome

After completing a physical examination and reviewing your history your doctor will provide you with a certain test that is essential for your cardiac health which is as follows: 

• Electrocardiogram (EKG)
• Coronary angiography 
• Echocardiography 
• Chest X-Ray 
• Cardiac MRI
• Ventriculogram 

How Broken Heart Syndrome differs from a heart attack?

Unlike a heart attack, Broken Heart Syndrome is not permanent damage to the heart, or the coronary arteries are not blocked. The diagnostic test will help reveal if your symptoms are Broken Heart Syndrome or heart attack.

It is difficult to tell whether a patient with Broken Heart Syndrome has a heart attack. It is important to get into the root cause of the problem with careful history and examination. 

Prognosis 

The good news is that for patients with Broken Heart Syndrome, the prognosis is good. In most cases of the initial episode, the heart recovers in 4 -6 weeks with medical treatment. Factors like age and complications are very important. 

Recovery of Broken Heart Syndrome

Most patients can recover within weeks after the Broken Heart syndrome. The condition can be life-threatening, with low blood pressure, shock, or heart rhythm abnormalities. Make sure you consult your doctor if you are resonating with any signs and symptoms of Broken Heart Syndrome.