Introduction tHeart Syndrome
After a traumatic event like a divorce oe or the death of a loved one, some people may experience chest pain and shortness o the result of a conditionon known colloquially as “broken heart syndrome.”
The syndrome, which do formally call tcall takotsubo ciomyopathy, is thought to be triggered by physical or emotional stress, which releases bursts of stress hormones like adrenalindrenaline that prevent people’s hearts from contracting properly. Most patients rcover quickly, but a small minority suffer heart failure.
Broken HeaHeart Syndrome in Men and Women
Althougheart syndrome is is most common in , men die from it at mt at more than twice the rate, according to a study published Wednesday the Journal of the American Heartrt Association.
The study analyzed data from nearly 200,000 adults in the U.S. who were hospitalized with broken heart syndrome from 2016 to 2020. Around 11% of men in that group died, compared with roughly 5% of women. The data reinforce previous studies that showed higher mortality rates in men.
“It seems to be a consistent finding that men don’t get takotsubo syndrome as much, but when they do, they do worse,” said Dr. Harmony Reynolds, director of the Sarah Ross Soter Center for Women’s Cardiovascular Research at NYU Langone Health, who wasn’t involved in the study.
Triggers of Broken Heart Syndrome
The differences between men and women may have something to do with what’s triggering their conditions, cardiologists said.
In men, broken heart syndrome is usually brought on by a physical stressor, such as a surgery or stroke. In women, the impetus is typically emotional, like losing a job or loved one.
“The people with emotional stressors actually do quite well,” said Dr. Ilan Wittstein, a cardiologist at Johns Hopkins Medicine, who wasn’t part of the new research.
“Men may be more at risk for dying and having bad outcomes because they’re less susceptible to begin with,” he said. “So it takes a more dangerous trigger to precipitate the syndrome."
Recovery and Social Support
The study’s lead author, Dr. Mohammad Movahed, said men may also have a harder time recovering from broken heart syndrome since they tend to have less social support to help them manage stress.
“If you have this stressful trigger, and the stress is not gone, that’s probably going to continue to harm the heart, or at least reduce the chance of recovery,” said Movahed, a cardiologist at the University of Arizona’s Sarver Heart Center.
Is Stress the Only Trigger?
To confirm that a person has broken heart syndrome, doctors look for a few tell-tale signs.
In a typical patient, part of their heart muscle is enlarged like a balloon, but they do not have a blocked artery, which is usually associated with heart attacks. Most patients can also point to a stressful event that predated the episode.
“The stresses that we endure in our daily lives, both physical and emotional, can in fact take tolls on us,” said Dr. Matthew Tomey, a cardiologist at Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital in New York City. “You can feel the heartache in those moments, and there may literally be some heartache of sorts that’s accompanying that.”
But Wittstein said stress alone may not be enough to trigger broken heart syndrome.
“Some people just get a little frustrated at work, or somebody was out jogging a little too vigorously, or somebody just got stuck at a red light and was annoyed,” he said.
Hard to Treat, Hard to Prevent
Cardiologists said the mysteries surrounding broken heart syndrome can make it hard to prevent or treat.
Doctors occasionally prescribe medications used for other heart issues, such as beta blockers, or find ways to help people reduce stress, such as meditating and talking to a mental health professional.
“We have not found anything so far — any medication, any specific treatment — that can reduce complications or reduce mortality,” Movahed said.
His new study found that deaths from broken heart syndrome were relatively stable from 2016 to 2020 — a sign that the current treatment landscape isn’t sufficient, he said.
Conclusion
Broken heart syndrome, or takotsubo cardiomyopathy, is a condition triggered by physical or emotional stress that can have serious consequences, especially for men. While the exact causes and triggers of the syndrome are still not fully understood, research suggests that men are more likely to die from it due to various factors, including the type of stressor and lack of social support. Further research is needed to uncover the underlying mechanisms and to develop effective prevention and treatment strategies.
FAQs
- Q: What is broken heart syndrome?
A: Broken heart syndrome, also known as takotsubo cardiomyopathy, is a condition where the heart muscle becomes weakened and cannot function properly due to extreme emotional or physical stress. - Q: Who is more likely to die from broken heart syndrome?
A: According to recent studies, men are more likely to die from broken heart syndrome than women, despite women being more commonly affected by the condition. - Q: What triggers broken heart syndrome?
A: The triggers can vary but often include significant emotional events like the loss of a loved one, divorce, or phys
