What is Broken Heart Syndrome?

Unknown to many, broken heart syndrome is an actual condition that can occur due to extremely stressful conditions such as rejection from a lover or death of a loved one. In medical terminology, this condition is also known as stress cardiomyopathy referring to a type of non-ischemic cardiomyopathy.

During a broken heart syndrome, the heart becomes so weak that it takes a bulging shape resembling a fishing pot. This is the reason it is also known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy where Takotsubo means ‘octopus trap’ in Japanese.

Most people who experience broken heart syndrome may think that they are having a heart attack as the symptoms of both the conditions are similar. To understand the syndrome in a better way, below are some of the essential questions and answers one should be aware of:

What Happens During Broken Heart Syndrome?

The typical symptom of a broken heart syndrome is chest pain. When a person faces an extreme emotional trauma, stress hormones cause a temporary ‘freezing’ in the left ventricle whose work is to pump blood out to the rest of the body. This temporary freezing leads to poor blood circulation. Some of the common symptoms are as follows:

• Chest pain

• Shortness of breath or dyspnea

• A sense of impending doom

• Dizziness

• Irregular heart beat

In case the chest pain remains for a long time, it can be a sign of heart attack. Therefore, the best step is to seek medical care from a cardiologist as soon as possible.

What Triggers Broken Heart Syndrome?

While many people think that only romantic rejections or break-ups cause broken heart syndrome, there are various other events that can trigger such condition. Some of those potential triggers are:

• Winning or losing a lottery

• A surprise party

• Loss of financial assets

• News of an unexpected death of a loved one

• Physical stressors such as major surgery, asthma attack or accident

• Domestic abuse

Such events can lead to extreme emotional stress or upsetting moment which may result in temporary disorder in the heart.

Who is at a higher risk?

There are various risk factors associated with the occurrence of broken heart syndrome including:

• Age:Most of the people who experience broken heart syndrome are older than 50 years of age.

• Sex: Women are at higher risk for broken heart syndrome.

• Medical History:People who have a medical history of any neurological disorder like epilepsy or psychiatric disorder like depression have higher chances of getting affected by broken heart syndrome.

What Are the Complications ofBroken Heart Syndrome?

In some cases, broken heart syndrome can lead to serious complications. Some of them are as follows:

• Heart valves problems

• Heart failure

• Irregular heartbeats or arrhythmia

How Is It Diagnosed?

The symptoms of broken heart syndrome appear so suddenly that most of the people do not even get a chance to understand their condition. Fortunately, the condition is treatable and can improve quickly with proper diagnosis and treatment.

During the diagnosis, the cardiologist tries to determine the real cause behind the condition through various tests. These include:

• Physical Exam and Medical History

• Electrocardiogram (ECG)

• Blood Tests

• Coronary Angiogram

• Echocardiogram

• Chest X-Ray

How is Broken Heart Syndrome Treated?

Doctors can opt for various treatment options such aslifestyle changes, medications and relaxation therapy to ensure the patient’s well-being.

People who experience broken heart syndrome can consult cardiologists in Indiafor a timely treatment. Anyone looking for a cardiologist in Gurgaon can visit Max Healthcare which is known forits excellent department of cardiology being supervised by the best heart specialist in India.