Copyright timesnownews
Not all chest pains mean you may have a heart attack. Despite the growing prevalence of cardiovascular disease across the world, doctors say more than half of the chest pains that are brought to the hospitals are due to noncardiac causes. However, you must not take chest pain and the possibility of a heart problem lightly. Doctors say there can be several reasons a person experiences it, and the likelihood of a cardiac issue hinges mostly on a patient’s risk profile. One such condition is called Broken Heart Syndrome, which is reversible. Medically known as stress-induced cardiomyopathy or Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, it is a short-term condition where some of your heart muscle weakens rapidly, after a sudden physical or emotional stressor. When part of your heart is not working well, the other parts may work harder. How is it different from a heart attack? While it may be confused for a heart attack, broken heart syndrome has underlying causes that differ from a typical heart attack. One of the main features of Broken Heart Syndrome, according to experts, is its rapid onset due to extreme stress. Also, with broken heart syndrome, you do not have blocked coronary arteries and typically don’t have permanent heart damage. And you usually make a fast and full recovery. What causes broken heart syndrome? According to experts, while they cannot pinpoint the causes behind broken heart syndrome, they believe a stressful life event like a break in a relationship, an accident, a medical condition, or even job loss can lead to it. When you react to physical or emotional stress, your body releases stress hormones into your blood. Experts think that these hormones temporarily interfere with your heart’s function. However, studies show a small percentage of those with broken heart syndrome, also known as takotsubo cardiomyopathy, are not able to identify any stressors that may have triggered their episode. Also, there is no evidence to suggest that a parent can pass broken heart syndrome down to their children. Signs and symptoms of broken heart syndrome You may feel broken heart syndrome symptoms within minutes to hours after the stressful event. The release of stress hormones temporarily stuns your heart muscle, producing symptoms similar to a typical heart attack. Signs and symptoms of broken heart syndrome include: Sudden and severe chest pain and angina Breathlessness Weakening of the left ventricle of your heart Irregular heartbeats Low blood pressure Palpitations Fainting What are the risk factors for broken heart syndrome? A few risk factors that can make you more likely to get broken heart syndrome include: You are a woman You are older than 50 years of age. You have had a psychiatric disorder, such as anxiety and depression. You have had a neurologic disorder, like seizures or a stroke.
