Broken Heart Syndrome and Cardiac Implications

Having your heart broken is more than just emotional, but a real syndrome that can cause cardiac  symptoms.  We see this happening in some grieving the loss of a beloved one  in death or the loss of a relationship.

It is certainly one of the most painful events that can happen to a human being.  I will be referring more to the lost of romantic relationships in this post.

If it is a romantic breakup, then it is a death without the body, coffin or funeral.  No flowers or notes of condolences will be sent your way.

There is tremendous emotional agony of losing someone you love, either in death or a relationship, especially when all your hopes for a future were wrapped into this person.  For whatever reason they can not reciprocate your love, your bubble of life is burst .

There are not any quick fixes of a broken heart.  It is a pain that will not go away and is something that momentarily cripples us until we can find some healing and peace.

If the breakup was sudden without warning and especially if it involves some sort of betrayal, there is always some PTSD symptoms as well.   Initially there is a state of emotional shock or feelings of being stunned.

The body is  flooded with stress hormones called catecholamines that can make your whole body feel sick.. The painful agony grows in intensity as if alcohol was poured into the heart.  You physically hurt as if every cell in your body is moaning in pain.

We now have some clinical evidence behind the  phenomena of chest pain or squeezing felt during the most intense feelings of hurt and loss.  The physical heart muscles really changes and suffers.  Called Takotsubo syndrome, it is a real cardiac situation that can mimic an infarct.

Tako is Japanese for octopus and tsubo for pot, because the ballooning effect seen in the left ventricle looks like a Japanese octopus catching pot.

The left ventricle of the heart provides the most powerful force in circulating blood around the body.  Indeed, the angiograms  look like the bottom half of the left ventricle remains like a round pot, with only the top half in ejection squeeze.

This ballooning effect is seen more often is postmenopausal women, who have loss the protective edge of circulating estrogens.  There is also a rise in cardio biomarkers that can mimic ischemia and EKG changes.

They say that Takotsubo is caused by the  outpouring of catecholamines. The good news is that the physical symptoms of Takotsubo syndrome subside in a few days or weeks.

Initially a death or breakup resembles an acute  grief reaction and major depressive disorder. Generally, medication is not given unless the grief over a death or breakup continues and the depressive symptoms do not abide in time.

These include insomnia, severe loss of appetite, with weight loss, decreased concentration and energy.   The overwhelming sadness may include suicidal thoughts, but generally they are without intent.

In those though with a history of a previous depressive disorder, or suicidal gestures, there should be much more attention and scrutiny to any suicidal thoughts.  Initially, they be too much in shock to cry, which comes later.  There is often a rumination of the last words or breakup scene.

After the shock, there is usually quite of bit of anger and for some revengeful thoughts.  Although these feelings are normal, it is never a good idea to act upon any revengeful feelings!  This can be a dangerous time for impulsive angry types, who might do things they later will regret.

When two hearts can no longer support a love together, each with reciprocal intent, it is like a miscarriage.  The two individuals must provide the necessary relationship “DNA” for the relationship to continue, and when that is not possible, the union will falter and fail.

However painful the breakup may be , there are lessons to be learned and in time they will be revealed.  The emotional devastation is to such a degree, that life changes and events might occur as a result.   The pain may well peel away defenses and denial that were in place, exposing a truth that needed to come forth.

Broken hearts need a lot of TLC, especially from the very one who carries the suffering. Just as you would comfort a child, the sufferer must learn to do that for themselves. They also need a balm of comfort and understanding from loving and supportive friends and family.

Leaning on a spiritual core generally helps in the process of recovery.  Knowing that nothing in life stays the same, and that includes the pain you feel.  You take your broken heart along with you as you limp towards finding new meaning in living.   Yes, the recovery is long and tortuous.

In time you come to realise that the breakup may have spared you from even more pain, had the relationship continued.  For whatever reason, in the mysterious scheme of things, it was just not meant to be at this time.  Sometimes that love can reweave back into your life, when perhaps both partners have changed that would allow the relationship to be viable in ways not possible before.

With help, you can slowly learn to open your heart again.  It is important to not allow your chagrin to turn into bitterness, distrust and hate.  There will be a time in the future when the bridge of forgiveness should be crossed.  In time and with some healing, we are all capable of loving again.