People all over the world are talking about Broken heart and death. When Debbie Reynolds died one day after Kelly Fisher in December 2016, many people thought it was because Reynolds’ heart could not bear the fear of losing her daughter.
What is broken heart syndrome?
In fact, Debbie Reynolds had a severe stroke, which is closely related to high blood pressure. Perhaps the pressure-related adrenaline pumping around her body caused her blood pressure to soar.
But there is actually a condition called broken heart syndrome. Its official name is “takotsubo cardiomyopathy” and it was first described in Japan in 1990.
Cardiomyopathy is a medical problem (-pathology, pathology), which is related to the (muscle-)muscle of the heart (myocardium).
What does Takotsubo mean?
Takotsubo means “octopus pot” in Japanese. The traditional Japanese octopus trap has a unique shape. In broken heart syndrome, the muscles of the heart wall become weak.
The left ventricle (the largest of the four chambers of the heart, forming the tip of the heart) expands and takes on the appearance of an octopus pot.
Why does it happen?
As with many other things in medicine, there can be multiple reasons, and no one is absolutely sure what happened. This may be related to the location of the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart.
We know that in about three-quarters of cases, broken heart syndrome will appear after major stress (such as sadness). We also know that stress fills your body with adrenaline, the “fight or flight” hormone.
Thousands of years ago, adrenaline gave humans the upper hand, putting the body in a state of high alert, allowing you to better escape quickly when you encounter a saber-toothed tiger. But this comes at a price.
Anxiety disorders and panic attacks are closely related to hyper adrenaline. People think that excessive adrenaline may also be at least partly responsible for takotsubo, but based on my experience, there is a not too strange answer to why so many husbands and wives die together.
After someone took care of him (and his health), he suddenly became alone. Maybe your loved ones remind you to take medicine or eat healthily; maybe they did some tasks that are the most stressful for you.
They certainly gave you someone who can share your concerns. As they say, a common problem can really halve the problem. This is why family and friends can play such an important role in helping people who have lost their loved ones at such difficult times.
What are the symptoms of broken heart syndrome?
The symptoms of a broken heart cause heart attack Your heart cannot keep up with your body’s needs. The result may be:
- Severe chest pain, often mistaken for a heart attack.
- Difficulty breathing due to fluid accumulation in the lungs.
- Abnormal heart rhythm. (Fast, slow or irregular heartbeat).
- Dizziness or collapse caused by low blood pressure.
- Occasionally, stroke or cardiac arrest.
How is it diagnosed?
Because patients with broken heart syndrome often have severe chest pain, they are usually sent to the hospital for blood tests and heart tests, such as electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, and coronary angiography. The heart has a typical “octopus trap” appearance.
Treatment for broken heart syndrome
The treatment of takotsubo depends on the symptoms it causes. For example:
- So,If you have fluid in your lungs, you will get tablets of water to help drain the fluid.
- If your heart is struggling, beta-blockers and ACE inhibitor tablets can reduce their stress. So, If your blood pressure is low, you will receive pills to stabilize your blood pressure.
- If you are in cardiac arrest, you will receive a red alert to allow your heart to work normally.
After that, you might consider a device called an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). This is a tiny device placed under the skin of the chest. It will track your heart rate and give your heart an electric shock when you have another cardiac arrest.
What’s the survival rate?
In general, at least from a physical point of view, the prospects for takotsubo cardiomyopathy are good. Approximately 95% of people recover completely within a few weeks with appropriate treatment.
But the original trauma that caused their heart failure is often forgotten in the drama of admission. It is very important to get the right support to help you through major life events such as grief.
The CRUSE hotline is run by well-trained volunteers who have dealt with grief themselves. They can provide valuable advice and support. Your GP can also help, including referrals for advice. Don’t hesitate, a healthy mind is as important as a healthy body.
