Broken Heart Syndrome Is Increasing During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Can It Be Deadly?

What could be more painful than a heart ache? Or, what could be more painful than a heartache in the middle of a pandemic?

Staying at home, regularly washing your hands with soap and water, and taking care of yourself is not enough during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Aside from the current health situation, there are other health conditions that are coming into focus such as the "Broken Heart Syndrome."

Research shows the COVID-19 pandemic is causing more people to get sick and die from the "Broken Heart Syndrome."

The condition has become common and doctors say that the new research is not surprising.

Dr. Scott Weslow, an interventional cardiologist at Aurora BayCare Cardiology, said that this condition is caused by stress.

"About 20 to 30 percent of the time that stressor is an emotional one, not a physical one: loss of a loved one, loss of a pet, a financial loss, gambling," Dr. Weslow was quoted in a report.

Dr. Weslow said that sudden and intense stress causes a rush of adrenaline. This quickly weakens the heart muscle.

"They come in and they look like a heart attack, and they treat them as such, but then when we go into the cath lab and look for the blockage causing the heart attack, they don't have blockages in their arteries typically," Weslow was quoted in a report.

The doctor added that the broken heart syndrome is fatal to one to two percent of the time and makes people critically ill in 10 percent of cases.

Weslow also said that the condition might be increasing because of the anxiety and stress from emotional and physical isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The doctor said this just shows that social isolation and physical isolation are not good for us.

What is Broken Heart Syndrome?

Broken Heart Syndrome or also called stress cardiomyopathy have symptoms like chest pain and shortness of breath. Although any long-lasting chest pain could be a sign of a heart attack.

According to a report, the causes of broken heart syndrome is unclear. But it is said that a surge of stress hormones might temporarily damage the heart of some people.

An example of this stress hormone is adrenaline.

Some potential triggers of broken heart syndrome are the death of a loved one, a frightening medical diagnosis, domestic abuse, and other physical stressors.

Broken heart syndrome is not the same with heart attack. Heart attacks are mainly caused by a complete or near-complete blockage of a heart artery.

The heart arteries are not blocked in broken-heart syndrome.

Is It Fatal?

A study of 24,701 cardiomyopathy patients showed that less than five percent of cases were fatal.

The majority of those who died had preexisting medical conditions.

Experts suggest meditation and exercise and care of their mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This can be done by establishing a routine, reaching out to loved ones, getting professional help, and focusing on what you're grateful for.

How Is It Treated?

Broken heart syndrome is treated with medicines to lower blood pressure, beta-blockers to slow the heart rate, and anti-anxiety medicines to manage stress.

There are some complications linked with broken heart syndrome that can lead to serious heart problems such as failure of the heart to pump enough blood for the body's needs, irregular heartbeat patterns, damage to heart valves, low blood pressure, and backup of fluid in the lungs.

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