A merry heart does good like a medicine but a broken spirit dries the bones. (Proverbs 17:22) This is one of my favorite Bible verses because it speaks directly to the power of contentment and joy. It is an ancient reminder that there are established ties between how you feel and how it manifests in your body. It is the ancient truth that underscores the growing modern-day evidence for the link between mental health and heart disease. So there it is.
A Broken Heart = Real Cardiac Consequences
The condition is known as “Broken Heart Syndrome” and can be triggered by strong emotional stress. Not just negative stress – like the death of a loved one, a divorce or a horrific scare – but positive stress can do it as well – like a move into a new place or winning the lottery. Formally, this condition is called Stress Induced Cardiomyopathy or Tako tsubo Cardiomyopathy. It occurs because certain areas of heart muscle become suddenly and drastically weakened causing the heart muscle to blow out like a balloon. That makes it harder for the blood to circulate the way it needs to. Tako tsubo is a Japanese word that means “octopus pot”. The condition is called by this name because the shape of the heart looks very much like a Japanese octopus trap.
NOT a Heart Attack But Just as Dangerous
A heart attack is caused by blocked coronary blood vessels that supply the heart. Broken Heart Syndrome is not a heart attack because the coronary blood vessels are not blocked. It is believed that the sudden release of stress hormones into the blood stream is what leads to the weakening of the heart muscle in broken heart syndrome. However, like a heart attack, broken heart syndrome can lead to life-threatening heart rhythms, congestive heart failure and even bursting of the heart.
Feels Like / Looks Like
The most common symptoms of broken heart syndrome are chest pain, shortness of breath and the sensation that your heart is skipping beats. Fortunately, this condition is treatable and usually has a recovery time of several days to a few weeks.
Broken Heart Syndrome is a MEDICAL EMERGENCY and if you believe you are suffering from this condition you need to have it promptly evaluated.
For more information about this condition, speak with your primary care doctor or visit the American Heart Association at www.heart.org
Be WELL!
Dr. Pamela Ross, MD
Image credit: Krisdog / 123RF Stock Photo
