We have all heard stories about a spouse that passed away shortly after their husband or wife died. Many people will say, they died of a broken heart. Most likely that’s not the case, but there is actually a medical condition that can look like a heart attack after a stressful event in someone’s life. Broken heart syndrome: can a person die from a broken heart?
Cardiomyopathy
The correct medical name for broken heart syndrome is cardiomyopathy, or Takotsubo. It is defined as sudden acute stress that quickly weakens the heart muscle. Most people who experience cardiomyopathy have a stressful event in their lives, but up to 30% have no known trigger for the condition.
There are basically two causes: emotional or physical stress. Emotional stressors include grief, fear, tremendous anger, or surprise. Physical stressors can include a high fever, stroke, seizure, trouble breathing from emphysema or asthma, severe bleeding, or low blood sugar.
It can also happen if someone has an infection or is going into surgery.
Symptoms of Stress Cardiomyopathy
Many of the symptoms of broken heart syndrome mimic a heart attack, like the following:
- Chest pain
- Sweating
- Dizziness
- Shortness of breath
- Weakening of the left ventricle of the heart
- Fainting
These symptoms can occur within minutes of an emotional or physical event or hours later. The results can lead to congestive heart failure, low blood pressure, shock, and life threatening heart rhythm abnormalities. Follow up with an experienced cardiologist like New Jersey Cardiology Associates if you suspect you have broken heart syndrome.
The difference between having a real heart attack and stress cardiomyopathy is that there is no significant blockage in the arteries to the heart as with a heart attack. In fact, the damage heals quite quickly. This can occur in as little as a few weeks.
Additional Risk Factors for Stress Cardiomyopathy
When a stressful event occurs, it triggers the hormone adrenaline which surges during a stressful event. Too much adrenaline can overwhelm the heart and narrow the arteries supplying blood to the heart. In addition, adrenaline can bind itself to the heart cells causing deposits of calcium. The large amount of calcium prevents the heart from beating normally.
Although persons of any age can develop broken heart syndrome, those at highest risk are women over the age of 55. There is a physical reason for this increased risk. When stress cardiomyopathy strikes, it triggers the hormone adrenaline. It literally surges during a stressful situation. Adrenaline usually helps the body cope with stress.
Normally the hormone estrogen protects females from the harmful effects of adrenaline, but due to menopause, estrogen levels have declined. This leaves older women particularly susceptible.
It can increase in persons with a history of anxiety, depression, or neurologic illnesses.
Some Interesting Facts
- Broken heart syndrome can be fatal, but it is rare.
- If you get the condition, it rarely happens again.
- Stress broken heart syndrome patients have a good prognosis.
- Physical broken heart syndrome patients can have a worse prognosis due to neurologic problems like stroke.
- Although broken heart syndrome causes severe short-term heart muscle failure, it is treatable.
Schedule a Cardiology Appointment in West Orange and Belleville, NJ
Contact New Jersey Cardiology Associates at (973) 429-8333 for tests and a diagnosis if you suffered a stressful episode and suspect you may have broken heart syndrome in West Orange and Belleville, NJ.
Sources: Broken Heart Syndrome (Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy) (clevelandclinic.org)