Broken
Heart?
On December 27, 2016, actress Carrie Fisher,
aged 60, died from a heart attack. The very next day, her mother, actress Debbie Reynolds
died from a stroke. In the wake of the loss of these two popular Hollywood
icons, many have asked whether you can actually die from a “broken heart”.The answer is yes. Broken
heart syndrome, formally known as stress
cardiomyopathy is a real medical condition. It is triggered by acute,
major stress or shock — such as the death of a loved one.Indeed, your heart and mind
are closely interlinked, and your mental states can have a distinct influence
on your heart health and overall longevity.
Symptoms of broken heart syndrome are very
similar to those of a heart attack, including chest pain and shortness of
breath. The difference is there's no actual damage to the heart to trigger it.
Extreme shock or stress may also trigger a hemorrhagic stroke by causing a dramatic
rise or change in blood pressure.According to the British
Heart Foundation (BHF), broken heart syndrome is a "temporary condition
where your heart muscle becomes suddenly weakened or stunned." The left
ventricle, your heart's largest chamber, also changes shape, which adds to the
temporary dysfunction.This sudden weakness of the
heart is thought to be due to the sudden
release of large quantities of adrenaline and other stress hormones.
Adrenaline increases your
blood pressure and heart rate, and it's been suggested it may lead to narrowing
of the arteries that supply blood to your heart. While most will successfully
recover, in some, the change of shape of the left ventricle can trigger a fatal
heart attack. An estimated 90 percent
of broken heart syndrome occurs in women.
Having a history of neurological problems, such
as seizure disorders, and a history of mental health problems is thought to raise
your risk. While the condition can be life-threatening and requires
immediate medical attention, it's usually a temporary condition that leaves no permanent
damage.A number of studies have
also shown that the loss of a loved one raises your own risk of sudden death,
also known as the "bereavement
effect." There's even evidence showing that spousal illness
increases the partner's mortality risk.
A 2011 study found that, following a partner's death, the odds
of the surviving partner dying remained elevated for six months (the widowhood effect), independent of
their age and gender. A 2012 study found that losing a
significant person in your life raises your risk of having a heart attack the next day by 21 times, and in the
following week by six times. The risk of heart attacks began to decline after
about a month had passed, perhaps as levels of stress hormones begin to level
out.
There are compelling links between cardiac health and mental health.
Having untreated depression or anxiety disorder increases your odds
of having a heart attack or developing heart disease. Stress hormones are again
a primary culprit.
A 2011 study, which found that those who reported
higher levels of satisfaction in areas like career, sex life and family had a
reduced risk for heart disease.
According to Julia Boehm, "The absence of the negative is not the same thing as the
presence of the positive. We found that factors such as optimism, life
satisfaction and happiness are associated with reduced risk of CVD regardless
of such factors as a person's age, socioeconomic status, smoking status or body
weight."
Dr. Stephen Kelly D.C.
Dr. Kelly practices at Family First
Chiropractic located at 142 Erickson drive in Red Deer. Call us today to book
an appointment (403)347-3261 or visit us at www.family1stchiro.ca
