'Broken Heart Syndrome' Is Real: StudyThursday, 27 Mar 2014 12:14 PM
The stress of natural disasters can break people's hearts,
according to a new study.
Researchers found dramatic rises in "broken heart syndrome" in
Vermont after a huge storm ravaged the state and in Missouri
after a massive tornado.
People with broken heart syndrome -- formally called Takotsubo
cardiomyopathy -- suffer a temporary enlargement and
weakening of the heart. The condition is often triggered by
extreme emotional or physical stress, such as losing a loved
one or being in a traffic crash.
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"Despite the seemingly increasing number of natural disasters we
have, there is limited data about how it might affect the
heart," said lead investigator Dr. Sadip Pant, an internist
at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
"Our findings suggest two disasters -- one in Vermont and one in
Missouri -- might have been possible triggers for the
clustering of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy cases in these
regions," Pant said.
For the study, a university team looked at data from nearly 22,000
people in the United States who were diagnosed with broken
heart syndrome in 2011. They mapped the cases state by state
and found that Missouri and Vermont had the highest rate of
cases -- 169 and 380 per 1 million residents, respectively.
Most states had fewer than 150 cases per million people. In 2011,
Vermont was devastated by Tropical Storm Irene, and an
enormous tornado tore through Joplin, Mo., and killed at
least 158 people.
The study is scheduled for presentation Saturday at the American
College of Cardiology annual meeting, in Washington, D.C.
Symptoms of broken heart syndrome include chest pain and shortness
of breath. The condition typically resolves within one or
two months, but can lead to serious complications, such as
heart failure, heart rhythm disorders and stroke in some
cases.
"By and large, it is a very reversible form of cardiomyopathy, but
in the acute phase these patients need to be monitored
closely to be sure they are stable and to prevent and manage
problems," Pant said in a college news release.
"It's also something that emergency doctors and medical personnel
need to be aware of as they are often on the frontlines
seeing patients after disaster strikes," he said.
Broken heart syndrome is "a perfect example of our brain-heart
connection," Pant said. "The emotional stress we have in our
brain can lead to responses in the heart, and not much is
known about this condition."
Data and conclusions presented at meetings typically are
considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed
medical journal.
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