Broken heart syndrome, also known as Takotsuba cardiomyopathy, is a rare problem that causes symptoms similar to those of a heart attack, such as chest pain, shortness of breath or tiredness that can arise in periods of intense emotional stress, such as a separation process or after the death of a family member, for example.
Most of the time, this syndrome appears in women after 50 years of age or in the post-menopausal period, however, it can appear in people of any age, also affecting men. People who have had head injuries or have a psychiatric disorder are more likely to have broken heart syndrome.
Broken heart syndrome is usually considered to be a psychological disease, however, tests carried out on people who have had this disease show that the left ventricle, which is a part of the heart, does not pump blood properly, impairing the functioning of this organ. However, this syndrome can be cured by the use of medications that help regulate heart activity.
Main symptoms
The person with broken heart syndrome may have some symptoms, such as:
- Tightness in the chest; Difficulty breathing; Dizziness and vomiting; Loss of appetite or stomach pain; Anger, deep sadness or depression; Difficulty sleeping; Excessive tiredness; Loss of self-esteem, negative feelings or suicidal thinking.
Usually, these symptoms appear after a situation of great stress and can disappear without treatment. However, if the chest pain is very severe or the person has difficulty breathing, it is recommended to go to the emergency room for tests, such as electrocardiogram and blood tests, to assess the functioning of the heart.
How the treatment is done
The treatment for broken heart syndrome should be guided by a general practitioner in the emergency or a cardiologist, depending on the severity of the symptoms presented by the person, and consists mainly of the use of beta-blocker drugs, which serve to normalize the functioning of the heart, diuretic remedies, to help eliminate accumulated water due to failure to pump the heart.
In some cases, hospitalization may be necessary to undergo treatment with medicines in the vein for the heart in order to prevent an acute myocardial infarction. After recovery, follow-up with a psychologist may be indicated, so that therapy is performed with the objective of overcoming trauma and emotional stress. Check out other ways to overcome stress.
Possible causes
Possible causes of broken heart syndrome include:
- Unexpected death of a family member or friend; Being diagnosed with a serious illness; Having serious financial problems; Being undergoing a process of separation from the loved one, through divorce, for example.
These situations cause an increase in the production of stress hormones, such as cortisol, and can generate exaggerated contraction of some cardiac vessels, causing damage to the heart. In addition, even though it is rare, there are some drugs, such as duloxetine or venlafaxine, that can cause broken heart syndrome.
