Love can cause heart failure

MANY songs and poems speak of a broken heart, but is there really such a thing?

The surprising thing is that yes, stress, sometimes from losing love, can cause heart failure or broken heart syndrome.

Dr Alfred Dawes, a general, laparoscopic and bariatric surgeon, told

All Woman that the condition — Takotsubo cardiomyopathy — first described in 1990, is the sudden onset of heart failure associated with ECG changes similar to a heart attack.

“Like a heart attack, there is shortness of breath and chest pain. This weakened heart cannot pump blood effectively, leading to heart failure. The weakening can be triggered by emotional stress, such as the death of a loved one, relationship problems, break-ups, financial problems and general anxiety. Sometimes physical stressors such as accidents, surgery and asthma can cause the syndrome,” he said.

Dr Dawes said at times it can be caused by an extremely happy event, such as winning a jackpot or a prize, which he said could probably explain what Jamaicans mean when they say “yuh glad bag buss”.

Dr Dawes explained that Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is thought to occur because there are high levels of stress hormones circulating in the blood which affect the blood supply to the heart itself.

“The heart muscle goes into shock and can’t contract properly to squeeze out the blood in its chambers. This failure of the heart to pump blood is called congestive heart failure. It is usually caused by long-standing hypertension or heart disease.”

However, Dr Dawes said only in about two per cent of patients is heart failure caused by Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, but he said of this number, 90 per cent of cases are women.

“Because it is so rare, it is often misdiagnosed. However, the treatment is similar to other treatments for heart failure,” he said.

Additionally, Dr Dawes said broken heart syndrome usually improves with treatment in a few days, and the heart function goes back to normal in a few months.

“Of course learning to cope with stress is a big part of the treatment, as it can recur if the same stressor is present. Counselling and learning different methods of stress prevention and relief may help to prevent the occurrence of broken heart syndrome,” he said.

Overall, Dr Dawes said a reduction in stress not only prevents this disease, but other health problems associated with high stress hormones, such as poor sleep, weight gain, stomach problems, and in the long run, high blood pressure and heart disease.

“Exercise, yoga, talking with trusted friends about your grief may help. But whatever you do, don’t lie in bed all day listening to songs about broken hearts,” he warned.