A heart disease that commonly is caused by stressful experiences and extreme emotions is known as broken heart syndrome. Serious physical conditions or surgery also can provoke this condition. Mostly, it occurs temporarily and goes away on its own. However, some people may continue to notice symptoms and feel not good even after their heart is healed.
Those who suffer from this heart condition may experience sudden chest pain or think a myocardial infarction happened. Broken heart syndrome often impacts a part of the heart, which temporarily interrupts how the heart pumps blood while other heart parts continue to work properly. In most cases, physicians prescribe medications to relieve broken heart syndrome symptoms. Check below other names of broken heart syndrome:
- Takotsubo cardiomyopathy
- Stress cardiomyopathy
- Recurrent takotsubo cardiomyopathy
- Apical ballooning syndrome
Symptoms
The symptoms of this condition are very similar to those of a myocardial infarction. For example chest pain, breathing problems, and others. Go to the nearest emergency room (ER) or call 911 in case you experience persistent chest pain or irregular heartbeat.
Causes
However, the exact cause of this heart condition is not known but experts think that a surge of hormones (such as Adrenaline) can provoke damage to the heart. In any case, the way how hormones affect the heart is not fully understood.
Another potential cause is a temporary squeezing of the heart’s small or large arteries. Those who suffer from broken heart syndrome can also have certain heart muscle structure changes.
This heart condition mostly comes along with intense physical or emotional events. Moreover, all things that provoke strong emotional reactions may cause broken heart syndrome. For example:
- COVID-19 or sudden asthma attack
- Major surgery
- Sudden broken bone
- Death of a loved person
- Strong argument
Additionally, some people who use prescription or recreational drugs may also have this heart condition. Examples include:
- Street drugs (including cocaine, methamphetamine, and others)
- Medications for stuffy nose
- Drugs used to treat anxiety
- Medicines used to treat severe allergic reactions or asthma attacks
Inform your doctor always about all medicines you are using including over-the-counter medicines, illegal drugs, and others. Moreover, never start using a medicine without a doctor’s recommendation because it may lead to certain unpleasant outcomes.
What is The Difference between Broken Heart Syndrome and Heart Attack?
A complete or near-complete blockage of the heart artery occurs in people who experience myocardial infarctions. However, people with broken heart syndrome do not have heart arteries blocked although reduced blood flow can happen.
Risk Factors
- Sex – This condition happens more in women and people assigned to females at birth (AFAB) than men and people assigned to males at birth (AMAB).
- Age – Most broken heart syndrome cases happen in people over 50 years old.
- Mental Disorders – Those who suffer from anxiety or depression are at higher risk of developing this heart condition.
What are The Possible Complications of Broken Heart Syndrome?
A lot of people recover fast after broken heart syndrome without any long-term negative effects or complications. However, in some cases, this heart condition can return (recurrent takotsubo cardiomyopathy). Rarely, this heart condition can cause fatal complications. Examples include:
- Fluid backup in the lungs (known as pulmonary edema)
- Hypotension (low blood pressure)
- Irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias)
- Heart failure
- Blood clots
Discuss with your doctor for more details.
Diagnosis
In most cases, people are diagnosed with this condition in an emergency or hospital because the symptoms are similar to those of a myocardial infarction. Doctors will ask you some questions about your symptoms, medical history, and if you have had recently a major stressful situation. In addition, they can perform some tests to confirm the condition. For example:
- Blood tests – People with broken heart syndrome often have increased cardiac enzymes in the blood.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) – This quick test helps measure the heart’s electrical activity. It also helps your doctor understand how fast or slow your heart beats.
- Coronary angiogram – This test is used to check for a blockage in the heart’s arteries, which helps exclude myocardial infarctions.
- Echocardiogram – This test helps to make images of your beating heart to check for heart enlargement or unusual shape. Sometimes, previous heart changes occur due to broken heart syndrome.
- Cardiac MRI – This test involves magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of the heart.
Treatment
The standard treatment for this heart condition does not exist. Physicians usually prescribe a treatment similar to that used for people with heart attacks. Moreover, people stay in the hospital until they get better. Most people recover from this heart condition within a month. Check below some treatment options:
Medicines
If your doctor identifies that broken heart syndrome provokes symptoms, you may get some medicines. For example:
- Blood thinners (anticoagulants)
- Diuretics (water pills)
- Beta-blockers
- Angiotensin 2 receptor blockers (ARBs)
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors)
Previous medications help to decrease the strain on the heart and prevent future broken heart syndrome recurrence.
Surgery
This treatment option is not used to treat this heart condition because it is not helpful. For instance, opening blocked arteries is a procedure that helps to improve blood flow. However, blocked arteries do not provoke broken heart syndrome.
Frequently Asked Questions
What triggers broken heart syndrome?
Commonly, major emotional or physical experiences are the main broken heart syndrome triggers. For example serious accidents, death of a loved one, unexpected loss or sudden illness, and others.
What are the possible broken heart syndrome complications?
If you ignore this condition and do not receive treatment, you may experience some complications. Examples include fluid back up into the lungs (pulmonary edema), hypotension (low blood pressure), arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat), and others. Talk with your healthcare professional for more details.
What are the most common medicines used in broken heart syndrome treatment?
In most cases, physicians prescribe medications used in myocardial infarction treatment. These include angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, aldosterone receptor blockers, statins, dual antiplatelet therapy, anticoagulants (blood thinners), and beta-blockers. If you have additional questions, ask your healthcare professional.