Studies have shown that sudden emotional stress can trigger a severe but reversible heart muscle weakness that mimics a heart attack. This condition is "Stress Cardiomyopathy" and is sometimes called "The Broken Heart Syndrome" or the "Love Trauma Syndrome".
First described in Japan 15 years ago, Broken Heart Syndrome occurs because reactive trauma floods the body with adrenaline and similar stress hormones, which over-stimulate the nervous system and stun the heart muscle.
Luckily, unlike a heart attack, Broken Heart Syndrome is reversible if diagnosed early. Patients are hospitalized and can recover within days - with no permanent damage to their hearts. Once medical issues are stabilized, seeking a trained mental health specialist will help cure the emotional trauma.
So tell the Bee Gees that's how you mend a broken heart.
49 comments:
I believe that, I remember working in a nursing home, there was a couple there that were married for 80 years and then one day she passed away, it wasn't many days after he followed.
I guess it makes sense. The loss of love can be felt acutely by many of us and it is just a small step further to include physical symptoms.
paul
makes sense to me...
my hear is feeling rather fragile right now..
but, it think it is my spirit that is suffering the worst..
even when you believe that life goes on ... losing a dad, a dear aunt/sister/ and two beloved pets in a short time takes its toll..
as for love..
When they say that you don't miss what you have never had
its not true
body mind spirit connection proven once again..
I'm so glad to read about this. I have been sure, being witness to the broken hearts of friends and family that their subsequent illnesses were almost directly linked to those emotional trauma's. I had no idea that this has been in fact proven. Thanks for this as any doubts I may have had about my suspicions have disappeared.
I enjoyed your article and your blog. I guess the caffeinated donuts might help with the broken heart -- though ironically, I don't think there's anything more heart-unhealthy. I was referred to your blog by Nicholas Genes because of my interest in health care blogs and bloggin (I work for Johnson & Johnson) and would welcome the chance to chat about them a bit.
Rob
Hi There,
I just had a look at your blog. Interesting reads - thanks!
Very, very nice
Tank you
Congratulations
I think broken hearts are very real, but looking at the condition in a clinical manner somehow seems to take some of the tragic romance out of the condition. (sigh.)
And a very Happy Valentines Day to you, my friend.
Ian
Make sense to me. It is good that it is treatable.
An apt post when Valentines Day is just round the corner... broken hearts can be mended!
Bee Gees... I enjoyed that number of theirs.
thats very interesting, it shows how much the physical body is conected to the emotional/spiritual side of yourself.
I believe it as LOVE is the strongest emotion we have, I believe.
In the Notebook - they died together - How I love that movie!!
But what about the emotional stress through Domestic Violence? I could only imagine what kind of damage that does to the heart!!
The American Institute of Stress and The Centers For Disease Control have both reported that up to 90% of all illnesses are due to stress. For many years I experienced several life threatening chronic illnesses, including a couple of heart attacks and triple bypass surgery. I found the Institute of HeartMath and discovered that all of these illnesses were due to stress I had been experiencing in my life. Learning and practicing HeartMath's scientifically substantiated tools and technologies literally saved my life. Additional information on HeartMath and how to prevent, manage and reverse the effects of stress in-the-moment, achieve better health, more energy, improved mental and emotional clarity, and improved performance and relationships can be found at www.emotionalmastery.com.
Dear Miranda,
Yes, sad that it happens that way.
Dear Puhpaul,
Love is a very powerful bond.
Dear Kath,
You have been through SO much. Mind-Body-Spirit are connected, I agree.
Dear Alison,
I have always believed this connection too.
Dear Rob,
Email me. The address is in my profile.
Dear lg,
Thanks :)
Dear David,
Gracias.
Dear Ian,
I think illness trumps romance. It's never good to be in anguish for too long.
Dear Wanda,
If untreated, it could be fatal.
Dear Id,
Me too. I enjoy the Bee Gees. Happy V Day.
Dear Sunnie,
Mind-body are one.
Dear Beachwriter,
Love is so powerful, you are right. Any kind of stress is hard on the body. That is why we need to take care of ourselves.
Dear Heartman,
Good information.
~Deb
Ohhh that's really interesting.
That feeling when you lose someone..ugh..it really does make sense.
I love how science is discovering things people have suspected for years:)
so how do they tell the difference between broken heart and grief ?
I LOVED the bee gees joke!
I think I had this once. Thankfully, the pain of a broken heart is only a distant memory.
Long Live Barry White!
I always think of the documentary about chimps that chronicled the death of a juvenile chimp hours after his mother died; his death was attributed purely to grief. Imagine how advanced the human race would be like if this condition were more pronounced, and all heartbreak ended in death!
Somehow I knew...
My grandmother's sister died of cancer when I was a teenager; 30 days later, in perfect health, Uncle Hank was gone too.
Thank you for making it official!
alan
For me this makes perfect sense. Love is a very strong emotion, and all sense's are used to love. Thank you for showing us this awesome study!
The heart is an amazing muscle. I remember when my hubby and I first married he had to leave out of town (job related) and I truly felt the pain of a broken heart. I never knew we could feel so much emotions of pain in a heart, it can really hurt.
Very interesting. Like others, confirms what I always thought might be true.
Thanks for that Deb and loved the Bee Gees mention at the end :).
Hope all is okay with you.
It sure does make sense, Deb. I have seen something like that happen, when my mother in law died, my father in law just couldn't cope. He was more than likely unwell, but we reckon he died of a broken heart (3 months after she did). It was terribly sad.
On to a lighter note ...
I hope you have a wonderful Valentines Day, Deb.
Take care, Meow
great post...
happy valentines day my dear friend Deb :)
Wishing you a happy Valentine's Day, Dr. Deb!
Love,
Sarah
Happy Valentines Day Deb..Hugs! Hope your enjoying this special day. :)
I am a victim of this syndrome. My granddad died at 57 years old on a Monday of cancer and my grandmother died Wednesday (two days later) of a broken heart. I know this is true. They were both buried at the same time.
Interesting read. I guess love is something you feel physiologically and mentally, so the loss of love will also be felt in these ways. Hope you had a good valentines day. Michelle
Dear Ms. L,
Science *is* amazing!
Dear JIP,
They are both part of the bereavement process.
Dear EVI,
It just came to me as I was typing.
Dear Godwhacker,
Ever lasting love is everlasting!
Dear Anon,
Grief is a very powerful experience. It fractures the mind body and soul.
Dear Alan,
Research helps to make things clearer. Always sad to hear stories like yours.
Dear Mysti,
I wanted to post it around Valentine's Day to highlight heart issues. Love is SO powerful.
Dear Nevah,
I can relate to that as well. I had similar experiences with my hubby.
Dear HP,
Our minds, bodies and souls are deeply interconnected. It is great that technology and research confirms that!
Dear Clare,
The Bee Gees are amazing. They have their own unique sound. They've also had a lot of heartbreak in their family.
Dear Meow,
Wow, how touching and sad.
Dear Carie,
Thanks. I thought it was an interesting piece to share on the blog.
Dear Astro,
Back atcha.
Dear Sarah,
Same to you :)
Dear Heidi,
Thanks. Hope you are doing well with things.
Dear Rose,
Oh, your Granddad died so young. And what a tragedy that your grandmother passed so soon afterwards. Love and loss never surprise me.
~Deb
Dear Michelle,
Oh, how lovely that you stopped by for a visit. Your insight is so right on!
~Deb
My previously healthy grandmother died 3 weeks after the death of my grandfather from lung cancer.
She nursed him throughout his illness, came home from the funeral, put her affairs in order and died.
I believe in broken hearts.
wow, this is really interesting -
-- many many many years ago (at least 30) when my sister and i were discussing my dad, who died within 1/2 hour of suffering a massive heart attack, she said: "he died of a broken heart" - she was referring to the stress brought on by living in a Police State, (SouthAfrica in 1958) which was in conflict with his gentle and non-racist nature.
My sissy is incredibly intuitive (and intelligent; ahead of her time one could say.
cheers for now,
pj
How do you reverse it?
Dear Hope,
What a sad story :(
Dear Dragonfly,
You sister is intuitive. Sounds like your Dad was a very sensitive person. You must miss him.
Dear United,
Medical attention can help address heart issues, and talk therapy with/without medication can help to work through the grief reactions. It is a process that takes time.
~Deb
Do you think Anna Nicole Smith suffered from this after her son died? She never seemed the same in interviews after that. Always seemed zombie-like and doped up.
BTW -- the BG's How Can You Mend a Broken Heart? is one of my all time favorite heartsick love songs!
La...la...lalalalalalalala :-)
I knew it all along!
This has happened to me, and I will do anything to avoid its happening again. It is a hideous feeling.
I thought the DR.was pulling my leg when she said I WAS SUFFING FROM A BROKEN HEART.But the pain of being separaded from my wife of 10 years is probaly going to kill me by the end of the year if I dont get my family back
I suffered from this syndrome. Ironically, it was on vacation in Hawaii. Two days into a six day vacation, I was hospitalized with what had been initially diagnosed as a heart attack, but was later changed to Broken Heart Syndrome. For nineteen years I have been a pull toy between my husband and my parents. Each refuse to accept the other. Because of this stress, I spent four days in ICU in Hawaii and came back with $3,500 of medical bills. Yes, that's just my portion!!! Probably won't be going back there anytime soon.
This happened to me! Until last week I thought I had been diagnosed with heart failure and cardiomyopathy due to a virus. Because I was misdiagnosed with asthma for almost a year, it took me a while to recover. My heart is completely normal now but the doctors have never mentioned stress cardiom!
Yeah. This is happening to me right now. I can't function I'm so physically sick...I can;t breathe properly, I can't eat, and my chest throbs and hurts so intensely I can barely do justice to how incredibly awful this feels.
And it makes me even more sick to think that the person who did this to me is being despicable, and despite the second chances I'm giving him, he doesn't appreciate them. He went from loving me so intensely to seeming completely indifferent and victimizing himself.
I'm a stronger, better person than this and this situation is weakening me more than anything i have ever experienced.
Yet I still wait for him to take his second and a half chance...ha.
I feel like I'm perpetually having a heart attack.
Dear Dr Deb
I am 59 year old lady who also suffer a Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy after an altercation of workplace bullying event whilst at at work in November 2007.
I was in hospital for over a week and it has taken 5 month for the pain in my chest to subside although medically my heart muscle went back in to shape within 6 weeks the pain took longer to leave my chest. I am now on full heart medication, beta blockers, aspirin, blood pressure and cholesterol tablets.
I can assure you this is a real condition and not one I want to go through again.Thanks for allowing information for other to read about this condition.
Shirley
Well, I've found kindred spirits! I had a 'heart attack' brought on by workplace stress. I worked in aged care, in dementia specific, with some very challenging behaviours. I did 5 full shifts a week, caring for 16 high/low care residents,alone. I was physically threatened on a regular basis, used hoisting equipment with non ambulatory residents, broke up fights between residents. I reached a stage where I couldn't even enter the place without getting palpitations, I never knew what to expect on a shift. I suffered a severe tachycardia event at work, then 2 weeks later, after a particularly stressful start to me shift, had the heart attack. All coronary arteries proved to be clear and tests, though showing clearly that I suffered an MI, weren't backed up by the bloods, etc.
So, it doesn't have to be the death of a loved one to cause this phenomenon, any emotional trauma can set it off, overwhelmingly in post menopausal women. I have recovered fully, and got out of the stressful job I was working in.
This was so interesting! I'm actually using this as my speech topic for my english class. Most people don't know much about this.
Yes I beleive that. Actually, this happend to my old choir teacher. After her cousin died or a heart attak, her father died or a heart attak, her husband of 15 years abond her and her family, and her dog died.. of a heart attak, and her brother had a serious heart problem.
She stayed in the hospital for at least a weak with the 'broken heart syndrome', and told us about it. And she said her only hope was in us.. and she knows when she comes to the school, everything will be okay. She cried at our concert. She was a good teacher, cint wait to see her next year. But the whole class WAS shocked when it happend, we felt bad. But great thing she recovered.
-Chloe
There is a book "The Love Trauma Syndrome" by Richard B. Rosse MD. I've been throught this Trauma to the extent of homicidal & suicidal and by the grace of a god and life line I'm still here. The above book goes partly into this but there really is more to this than you can believe. I'm in the process of putting mt theory into words that hopefully will make this all clearer. dw_stark@tpg.com.au
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