What is Broken Heart Syndrome?

You have probably heard either in-person or in a movie that “she died of a broken heart.” Well, this is something that can happen and in the medical world it is referred to as broken heart syndrome. While this can affect men too it is generally more often associated with women who are more emotional due to their hormonal makeup. When stress hormones surge to the heart, the heart reacts and symptoms occur.

What are the Symptoms?

This syndrome can actually make you feel like you are having a heart attack so if you do experience the symptoms it is important to get to the emergency room right away because it is better to be safe than sorry. The symptoms can include chest pain, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath and generalized weakness. With this syndrome, the symptoms can last for as long as a week then the hormones tend to normalize. The symptoms are also treatable.

What Causes this Syndrome?

It is not clear exactly why this syndrome occurs, but it is believed that an episode of major stress, such as a loved one dying unexpectedly, losing something big like a home and a serious medical diagnosis like cancer can bring it on. It is a surge of hormones that occur when these things happen and some people are simply affected far worse than others. For example, two women could lose their spouse unexpectedly, but only one will experience broken heart syndrome.

The only risk factor is being a woman. It is known that being over 50 years of age also plays a role.

Is this Syndrome Able to be Diagnosed?

Yes, it can because there are some signs that can be found through diagnostic testing. Your health history is important, as well as telling your doctor about any major events that have happened recently. Next, your doctor will likely want to get an electrocardiogram. This is able to tell your doctor if your heart has any structural or beating irregularities going on. Since this syndrome can cause an irregular heartbeat, this is a good test to have. It is noninvasive and there are no pain and no needles involved.

Sometimes the heart will take on an abnormal shape as a result of this syndrome. A chest X-ray or echocardiogram can help to show if any abnormalities in shape are present. Blood tests are also done to look at the levels of certain enzymes that could also indicate this syndrome.

Treating this Syndrome

There is no strict way to treat this. Until it is clear that you have this syndrome and are not having a heart attack, you will be treated for a heart attack to be safe. You will also likely recover in the hospital to be on the safe side. Once you are clearly diagnosed with this syndrome you will be put on a heart medication, such as an ACE inhibitor, a diuretic or a beta blocker to help prevent further aggravations of this syndrome. In most cases, you will be fully recovered in a month or two. Surgery and other invasive procedures are pretty much never used because they are not helpful for this syndrome.