PREVENTION

There's a small chance

that broken heart syndrome can
happen again after a first
episode. There's no proven
therapy to prevent additional
episodes; however,
many doctors recommend long-
term treatment with beta blockers
or similar medications that block
the potentially damaging effects
of stress hormones on the heart.
Recognizing and managing
stress in your life also is very
important.

Submitted by: Edwige R. Bonnety
BSMT 2A




Broken Heart
Syndrome



Sudden drop in blood pressure
Serious illness, surgery, or medical
procedure (e.g., cardiac stress test)
Severe pain
Domestic violence
Asthma attack
Receiving bad news (such as a
diagnosis of cancer)
Car or other accident
Unexpected loss, illness, or injury of a
close relative, friend, or pet
Fierce argument
Financial loss
Intense fear
Public speaking
A surprise party or other sudden
surprise
Stressors associated with Broken Heart
Syndrome
Definition
Broken heart syndrome is a temporary heart
condition that's often brought on by stressful
situations, such as the death of a loved one.
People with broken heart syndrome may
have sudden chest pain or think they're
having a heart attack. In broken heart
syndrome, there's a temporary disruption of
your heart's normal pumping function, while
the remainder of the heart functions normally
or with even more forceful contractions.
Broken heart syndrome may be caused by
the heart's reaction to a surge of stress
hormones. The condition may also be called
takotsubo cardiomyopathy, apical
ballooning syndrome or stress
cardiomyopathy by doctors.

There are no evidence-based guidelines
for treating takotsubo cardiomyopathy.
Clinicians usually recommend standard
heart failure medications such as beta
blockers, ACE inhibitors, and diuretics
(water pills). They may give aspirin to
patients who also have atherosclerosis
(plaque buildup in the arterial walls).
Although there's little evidence on long-
term therapy, beta blockers (or combined
alpha and beta blockers) may be
continued indefinitely to help prevent
recurrence by reducing the effects of
adrenaline and other stress hormones.
It's also important to alleviate any
physical or emotional stress that may
have played a role in triggering the
disorder.
Most of the abnormalities in systolic
function and ventricle wall movement
clear up in one to four weeks, and most
patients recover fully within two months.
Death is rare, but heart failure occurs in
about 20% of patients. It's treated with
diuretics, agents that improve heart
muscle contraction, and other therapies.
Rarely reported complications include
arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms),
obstruction of blood flow from the left
ventricle, and rupture of the ventricle
wall.






Treatment