A Journey Through a Broken Heart
Have you ever felt your heart break over some upsetting news? A broken heart is actually a physical condition, not just a metaphor. It’s more serious than you may think. It accounts for 3% percent of the population. While you cannot die from it, it’s important to take precautionary steps to heal your heart. A healthy heart means a healthy mind, which lowers anxiety and depression.
The Octopus Trap
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, or broken heart syndrome, is named after a pot fisherman use to trap octopus. An echocardiogram image shows the heart resembled as a bulging abnormal shape closely relating to the shape of a balloon, otherwise known as a ballooning syndrome. This is one way doctors can distinguish it from a heart attack.
More so, takotsubo cardiomyopathy is the weakening of the left ventricle of the heart and the main pumping chamber. Most people that have it say it feels like a heart attack. Although there are many symptoms, the common are shortness of breath and chest pains. It occurs for any events that would relate to a broken heart such as the death of a loved one, upsetting news, a near-death experience and of course, having a broken heart linking to a former partner. It can even occur when facing anxiety and depression. The unfortunate thing is that it can be fatal and usually lasts from weeks to months to recover. Many doctors are unsure why this happens, however, experts think that it could be surging a stress hormone, triggering changes in the heart’s muscle cells preventing the left ventricle to work properly.
Treatment
There is no evidence-based guideline on how to treat this condition, however, some clinicians would treat their patients with medications such as diuretics, or aspirin for those who have atherosclerosis. The most important treatment is to allow your heart to rest. For the time being, avoid any activity that can trigger the heart into overdrive. Yoga, meditation and breathing exercises can help. I would even suggest journaling.
Why is this important to know?
When we feel broken-hearted, we feel it mostly in the chest area. We go through the motions of depression, anxiety, guilt, and even fear. We feel it in our hearts and it can actually slow down our breathing. That’s why it’s important to take care of your heart so conditions like this don’t have to occur. I know it’s tough, but you only have one heart so be easy on it. Eat healthy, exercise, sleep well and most of all, give your heart a break.
