This archive report was first published on 9 July 2020.
Broken Heart Syndrome, a condition that has been linked to extreme stress or grief, can cause the heart to malfunction and even be life-threatening if left untreated.
Tabitha Lati's father was a victim of this condition. When her mother passed away, her father's heart began to weaken, and he eventually died two months later due to heart failure.
According to Dr. Charles Kariuki, a cardiologist at Nairobi Hospital, emotional triggers are the most common causes of Broken Heart Syndrome. These can include loss of a loved one, apprehension due to sudden illness or natural disasters, or even a surprise party.
Physical stressors can also lead to this condition, including strokes, seizure episodes, and head trauma. The triggering event is often identified in the preceding 1 to 5 days, and patients often present with sudden chest pain, difficulty breathing, and symptoms of heart failure.
Research has shown that an over surge of adrenaline and other stress hormones in the body, triggered by the stressors, weakens the heart's pump function. This can cause the heart to contract forcefully to compensate for the failing part, leading to a temporary constriction of the arteries that supply the heart.
Broken Heart Syndrome was first described in 1990 in Japan and is also known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy or stress cardiomyopathy. It is a type of transient heart disease that is triggered by significant physical or emotional stress and can be easily resolved without any permanent damage if treated promptly.
However, if left untreated, it can develop into cardiogenic shock, which is when the heart is not able to pump enough blood to the body. The risk for death is high, and persists for many years later, thus there is need for a follow-up.
