“A broken heart is the worst. It’s like having broken ribs. Nobody can see it, but it hurts every time you breathe.”
When you think of broken hearts, you think of false promises and lost love. While heartbreaks are indeed very painful and can cause great agony, a real-life broken heart can actually kill you!
‘Broken heart syndrome‘ is real condition and it can prove to be fatal if left untreated. In fact, University of Washington Medicine cardiologist Dr Zachary Goldberger says that he sees ‘around a patient a week who have this syndrome’.
Broken Heart (Dreamstime)
So, what is ‘Broken heart syndrome’?
Well, ‘broken heart syndrome’ is a heart condition which is triggered by high-stress situations like news of an unexpected death of a loved one, a scary medical diagnosis, an accident or even winning a lottery ticket.
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The condition has symptoms similar to that of a heart attack which often makes it difficult to diagnose. A patient suffering from the condition can experience sudden chest pain, and dramatic changes in heart rhythm and blood flow. However, unlike in a heart attack, there is no evidence of blockage of arteries in the broken heart syndrome.
Also, people suffering from this condition may also experience low blood pressure, shortness of breath and cardiogenic shock, a condition where the heart can’t pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. Although the condition is temporary, it can lead to death if the heart is unable to pump enough blood for long.
Heart Break ( Photo: Indian Express)
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Can I get broken heart syndrome?
While anyone above the age of 50 years is at a risk of getting broken heart syndrome, Dr. Goldberger believes that middle-aged women in their 60s and 70s are more prone to this condition than men.
