Page 48 - Tehelka Issue 8&9

column

Can you literally die of a

broken heart? Yes, you can

There’s a temporary disruption of your heart’s normal pumping
Being You function in one area of the heart. Learning how to deal with the
stress & emotions is the best way out to escape BHS
Yashica
Jalhotra
ow it happened doc? I was There have been instances when two
totally healthy,” asked a tall, people who loved each other died one
The writer, Editor short-haired, 30 something after the other or sometimes immediately
(Digital Media), man who was just adminis- to each other’s death. We have seen The left ventricle, one of the heart’s Takotsubo Registry study, 36 percent
is noted for giving H tered an injection meant to many families going through joint chambers, changes shape.” In most of the had a physical trigger (such as acute
witty tips on lifestyle, make him relax and sleep. The man slept funerals or two funerals in a short span of “About three quarters of people cases, people who respiratory failure, post-surgical/frac-
health, love, parenting, immediately but his question awakened time. Sometime back I happened to read a diagnosed with takotsubo cardiomyo- ture, central nervous system condition,
behaviour, inner- the doctor from his routine surgeries of report in the news about a man in Califor- pathy have experienced significant are not equipped or infection), 27.7 reported an emotion-
self, spirituality, the day and also made him figure out what nia died hours after his wife. The report emotional or physical stress prior to al trigger (such as grief/loss, panic/fear/
beliefs,relationships actually led to his stroke. made me think how can it happen- how becoming unwell,” well to handle anxiety, interpersonal conflict, anger/
and everything else During the initial checkup it was said usual it is-what stress led to his death? According to a study mentioned in tough and stressful frustration, financial or employment
falling under the sun. that the man was just having a psychoso- A report that raised my suspicion was the book ‘Clinical manifestations and problem), 7.8 percent had
matic reaction (PSR), which was a the hospitalisation of former US President diagnosis of stress (takotsubo) cardio- situations fall in both physical and emotional triggers,
psychological reaction to the stress acti- George H. W. Bush’s, just a day after his myopathy’ written by DR Guy S Reeder the trap of BHS and 28.5 percent had no evident
vated by an intense argument with wife’s funeral. and Dr Abhiram Prasad, among the trigger.
his colleague. The people who experience BHS feel 1759 patients in the International The authors also mentioned a simi-
Out of curiosity, Dr Mittal rushed out of irreparable loss. They see hopeless future lar systematic review which includes
the ICU and moved towards his cabin to or no future at all. 19 studies of 1109 patients, which said
do some research on the patient’s condi- According to experts, to ease out the that emotional stressors were present
tion. Within minutes, he had opened 15 situation, it becomes highly important 10 Facts on broken heart syndrome in 39 percent of patients and physical
different browser screens on his computer to help them release their stress, remove stressors in 35 percent.
but couldn’t find any conclusion. Getting the painful memories of any event, make In broken heart syndrome, there’s
desperate, anxious and with squeezed eyes their future bright and acceptable. This a temporary disruption of your heart’s
he kept staring at a word- Broken Heart all is possible with Neuro Linguistic Pro- 1 Broken Heart Syndrom is also known 7 In this case, heart cells are ‘stunned’ normal pumping function in one
Syndrom (BHS). gramming (NLP), healthy lifestyle, medi- as Stress cardiomyopathy, apical by the adrenaline and other stress area of the heart.
Broken heart syndrome, also known as tation, physical fitness, counselling and ballooning syndrome, takotsubo hormones but in heart attack they The remainder of the heart func-
Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy, is a temporary health supplements like Omega 3, cardiomyopathy and stress-induced are killed. tions normally or with even more
heart condition that’s often is the result of if required. In most of the cases, people cardiomyopathy. 8 Stress management activities are forceful contractions.
emotional outburst such as stressful situa- who are not equipped well to handle 2 In almost 90 percent of cases, women advised by the physicians. Workouts, Broken Heart Syndrome may be
tions, extreme anger, fear, surprise, sudden tough and stressful situations fall in the are likely to develop BHS, meditation and other tools helpful to caused by the heart’s reaction to a
loss or physical stress such as illness stroke, trap of BHS. 3 It is attributed to a rush of stress train the brain are considered effective surge of stress hormones. People with
seizure, difficulty in breathing or the loss The need is to practice meditation, hormones, especially adrenaline. in handling stress. broken heart syndrome may have sud-
of a loved one, particularly if unexpected, a forgiveness and gratitude. Learning about 4 It is caused by the sudden stimulation 9 Stress weakens the immune system den chest pain or think they’re having
serious accident, or a natural disaster such mental challenges like stress, anger, frus- of the sympathetic nervous system, and hence the person becomes more a heart attack.
as an earthquake, domestic abuse, argu- tration, dissatisfaction, depression, etc. which is also responsible for our “fight vulnerable to strokes and BHS.
ments, financial losses. and how to handle that timely can be or flight” responses 10 Learning how to deal with the stress, Yashica Jalhotra was seen talking to
The term “takotsubo” is taken from the helpful in avoiding these kind of 5 It stuns the heart and gives it a severe emotions and thoughts as advised by Dr Mittal and enquiring if not getting
Japanese name for an octopus trap, which strokes. but reversible, temporary abnormal doctors is the best way out to guard enough comments on her article
has a shape that is similar to the systolic According to the British Heart Founda- heart fuction. ones physical body from unwanted could lead to Broken Heart Syndrome.
apical ballooning appearance of the left tion, Broken Heart Syndrome is a “tempo- 6 It occurs in otherwise healthy patients. diseases. Why don’t you send her some comments
ventricle in the most common and typical rary condition where your heart muscle at letters@tehelka.com and save her
form of this disorder. becomes suddenly weakened or stunned. from BHS.

Tehelka / 15 may 2018 48 www.Tehelka.com Tehelka / 15 may 2018 49 www.Tehelka.com

48-49 Being-u-Column.indd 2-3 02/05/18 5:44 PM