Can you really die from a broken heart? According to scientists, the answer may surprise you.
Stress cardiomyopathy, also known as Takotsubo or “Broken Heart” Syndrome (BHS), is a potentially life-threatening condition that is steadily gaining ground amidst the pandemic.
While the exact cause is unknown, experts believe BHS occurs when the muscles of the heart are weakened due to extreme emotional trauma or stress. Additionally, the lower part of the left ventricle enlarges, the heart’s rhythm is thrown off, and it beats more forcefully.
Often confused with a heart attack, symptoms include chest pain and shortness of breath. However, unlike a heart attack, BHS does not block the coronary arteries. Similarly, though, the condition is diagnosed through a series of tests including an EKG, chest X-ray, or an echocardiography.
Broken Hearted in the Pandemic
Prior to the pandemic, roughly 2% of patients seen for heart attack symptoms were diagnosed with BHS. Now, that number has risen to nearly 8%.
“Families are extremely stressed by deaths of loved ones, and by losing jobs and homes,” C. Noel Bairey Merz, MD, director of the Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center at the Smidt Heart Institute, and the Irwin and Sheila Allen Chair in Women’s Heart Research told Cedars-Sinai . “Our own studies of Takotsubo syndrome indicate it was already on the rise before the COVID-19 pandemic, partly because it’s better recognized than it used to be.”
BHS can also be brought on by extreme physical illness such as COVID-19. According to the Mayo Clinic, any factor that creates a “strong emotional response” can trigger it. Additional risk factors include being female — nearly 90% of cases, being over age 50, and having mental health disorders.
Experts believe post-menopausal women could be at greater risk due to a drop in the estrogen hormone, which protects the heart during extreme stress. After menopause, estrogen decreases, making the heart more vulnerable.
Although it is rare — roughly 1% of cases, BHS can result in death. Serious complications such as heart failure, low blood pressure, blood clots, or pulmonary edema can make the condition fatal.
Fortunately, most cases are temporary and result in a full recovery. Most often, treatment includes anti-anxiety medications, beta-blockers to slow the patient’s heart rate, or angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors to lower blood pressure.
Benton County Heartaches
Despite a slight surge in heart problems in 2001 and again in 2007, Benton County trends very low compared to the rest of the U.S. when it comes to heart problems in general. Part of that is likely due to lower tobacco use and higher exercise rates.
So, if you’re out there walking a trail up Marys Peak, keep your outlook sunny and remember that we’ll be out of the Covid years one day.
By Rebekah Harcrow
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