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Everything you need to know about broken heart syndrome

Wellness
 Broken heart syndrome is a real condition and these are some of the things you need to know about it [Courtesy]

Heart health matters usually revolve around healthy living. There is emphasis on what you should eat vs what you shouldn’t, in order to maintain a healthy heart, as well as the need for regular exercise.

Eating healthy foods and getting active are both extremely important aspects of a healthy body and a healthy heart but often, the connection between mental health and physical health is forgotten.

It is true that our mental or emotional state can have a huge impact on how we feel physically. This is so real that physical conditions like broken heart syndrome are beginning to receive more awareness.

Broken heart syndrome is a real condition and these are some of the things you need to know about it.

It’s triggered by stressful events

The feeling of a broken heart is a dreadful one and people experience this condition from different events. Things like divorce, the loss of a loved one or just any experience that can put a lot of pressure on your mental health increase the likelihood of broken heart syndrome.

This Covid period has seen a spike in broken heart syndrome because people’s lives were turned upside down. It’s possible that high stress causes our bodies to release hormones, which might trigger the condition.

It can mimic a heart attack

Broken heart syndrome isn’t widely experienced and most people don’t know how it feels like. It can catch you off guard and make you panic even more because some of the symptoms feel just like a heart attack.

The common symptoms shared are dizziness, severe chest pain as well as shortness of breath. Others like an irregular heart beat can also trigger more feelings of anxiety.

 It can catch you off guard and make you panic even more because some of the symptoms feel just like a heart attack [Courtesy]
It’s treatable

Although it comes with scary symptoms that make you feel like you’re about to die, most people recover within a few weeks. Some good news at least.

There isn’t any specific medication for it but in case it happens, drugs used to treat heart attacks are often prescribed.

In some cases, although rare, it can lead to more severe heart conditions like heart failure. It’s important that you contact your cardiologist if you experience any of the symptoms.

Some people are more susceptible

Broken heart syndrome can happen to anyone including patients who have undergone surgery. But there are people who are at a higher risk of getting it than others.

Interestingly, women are more likely to have this condition than men and people who are 50 years old and above.

The other thing to note is, if you’ve had a history of anxiety and depression, you’re also at risk.

You can take preventative measures

The main way of ensuring your heart is healthy is to find healthy ways to manage stress. You can decide to take relaxing walks regularly and even prioritize going on holidays often so that you can release built up stress.

It also helps to still exercise and eat a healthy diet as a way of protecting your heart from serious complications.

 

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