Not Only Feelings, Heart Breaks Can Cause Heart Problems

Illustration of broken heart syndrome. (Freepic)

JAKARTA - Most people think that heartbreak is only a feeling of sadness or loss. But it turns out that this condition can really affect the heart physically. In the medical world, this condition is known as Broken Heart Syndrome or broken heart syndrome.

Reporting from the Harvard Health Publishing page, this syndrome is a temporary disorder in heart function that can arise after a person experiences severe emotional or physical stress.

Left temple is the part of the heart that plays a role in pumping blood. In broken heart syndrome, the top of the left booth of the heart narrows and the bottom widens so that it resembles an octopus trap.

This condition was first discovered in Japan in 1990 and is called takotsubo, because of the heart shape during the attack resembling a tako-tsubo, a traditional Japanese pot to catch octopuses.

This syndrome often occurs suddenly, especially after someone experiences extreme emotional events, such as losing people closest to them, severe stress, or to big surprises.

Cause

Causes are definitely not fully understood, but experts believe stress hormones, such as adrenaline hormones, have a big role. When the body experiences intense emotional or physical stress, the stress hormone increases dramatically and can surprise the heart. This causes the heart muscle to weaken temporarily and cannot pump blood effectively.

Some things that can trigger broken-heart syndrome include:

- Losing loved ones

- Bad news, such as a diagnosis of serious illness

- Kecelakaan atau operasi besar

- Domestic violence

- Great quarrel

- Financial problems

- Extreme fear

- Symmetric attack or serious illness

Interestingly more than 90% of cases occur in women aged 50 years and over, especially those who have entered the postmenopaus period.

Symptoms

Symptoms are often similar to a heart attack, so many people think they are experiencing a heart attack. The signs include:

- Pain or great pressure on the chest

- Shortness of breath

- Suddenly Fatigue

- Cold sweat

- Dizziness or almost faint

However, the difference is that in broken-heart syndrome there is no blockage intensive blood vessels such as in heart attacks.

To confirm the diagnosis, doctors usually perform several checks such as:

- EKG (electrocardiogram), the results can resemble a heart attack.

- Ecocardiogram (HALFCURRENCY) shows a weakened heart and balloon-like expanding.

- Angiogram (blood vessel examination) ensures there are no blockages intensive arteries.

The characteristic feature of the takotsubo cardiomyopathy is acal ballisticing, which is the development of the bottom of the left ventricle when the heart contracts, shaped like a Japanese octopus pot.

Treatment

There is no specific cure for this syndrome, because usually the heart function will recover by itself within 1.2 months. However, treatment is still needed to help recover and prevent complications. Treatment generally includes:

- Beta blockers to lower stress hormone effects such as adrenaline

- ACE inhibitors help the heart pump more efficiently

- Diuretic (fluid discharge drug) reduces the workload of the heart

- Aspirin, if the patient also has problems with blockage of blood vessels

In addition, doctors usually advise patients to manage stress well, for example through relaxation, meditation, counseling, or activities that calm the mind.

Prevention

It can not always be completely prevented, but there are several steps that can help reduce the risk.

- Maintain mental and physical health

- Manage stress through meditation, light exercise, or yoga

- Get enough sleep and eat well

- Building positive social relations

- Immediately seek medical help if you feel chest pain or shortness of breath.