"Broken Heart Syndrome" - an unusual name for pathology. The origin of this name is due to the etiology of the disease: when a person experiences a strong emotional shock, it, one way or another, affects the work of the heart. But in some cases, disturbances in the functioning of the cardiac system become not just a deviation, but a symptom of the disease. In medical sources you can find another name for the pathology - "takotsubo cardiomyopathy."
Essence of the disease
The most common cause of the syndrome is the body’s reaction to the death of a loved one. Stress cardiomyopathy is a disease of the cardiovascular system, manifested in the form of discomfort in the chest area after severe stress.
According to statistics, women face this problem more often than men, which is due to the pronounced emotionality of the fair sex. The largest number of cases of the disease was recorded in patients aged 60 to 70 years.
According to the ICD-10 somatic pathology encryption system, Broken Heart Syndrome is designated as I42.8.
Etiology
The exact origin of the disease is unknown. We can only suggest an approximate mechanism of how the pathology develops.
Initially, a certain psychoemotional stress arises, which leads to an imbalance of the autonomic system. It consists of the sympathetic and parasympathetic departments. One of them is responsible for the process of relaxation of the body, the other for its activation.
These two departments never work at the same time. The activity of one is always replaced by the launch of the other. In violation of the existing balance, which in medical practice is known as "vegetovascular dystonia", there is a sharp increase in the concentration of adrenaline in the blood. This hormone impedes the work of the heart, narrowing the arteries and damaging the tissues of the main muscle of the body.
Symptoms
Symptoms of a " broken heart syndrome " are similar to signs of a heart attack. So, the patient may experience:
- sharp pain in the sternum, extending to the back or arm;
- fluctuations in blood pressure;
- shortness of breath after little or no exercise;
- physical weakness, drowsiness, lack of appetite.
When a person encountering such symptoms takes "Nitroglycerin", the tablet does not have the proper therapeutic effect. The attack may last some time. However, the deterioration of well-being, characteristic of true heart attacks, is not observed.
Developmental stages
"Broken heart syndrome" occurs spasmodically. Periods of attacks are replaced by persistent remission. Autonomic disorder is the time of the absence of symptoms characteristic of the pathology. Imbalance in the work of the sympathetic and parasympathetic departments makes the nervous system vulnerable. Under the influence of any provoking factor, which may be stress, fatigue, or even a cold, the "broken heart syndrome" goes into the acute stage.
Disorder Forms
The existing classification of the pathological process considers it from the point of view of localization of injuries caused to the heart muscle during seizures. The disease may be diffuse or local. What is the difference between these two forms?
Diffuse damage to the tissues of the heart muscle is less dangerous than local. However, it also requires close monitoring by the attending physician. Determination of a specific form of the disease is possible only after an electrocardiogram. Using this research option, a specialist can consider any morphological changes in the tissues of the heart muscle.
Medical examination
Diagnosis of "broken heart syndrome" is carried out according to a certain algorithm, which allows us to differentiate the disease from similar pathologies.
Initially, the doctor examines the patient’s history. To this end, he can ask a number of clarifying questions: how long did the first symptoms of the disease appear, what stress factors preceded their occurrence, which of the family members confirmed this diagnosis, etc. It is important to understand that pathology develops solely as a reaction to acute emotional experience. For the formation of the disease, the fact of the presence of some event that can cause such significant changes in the physiology of the human body is needed.
After this, a diagnostic plan is assigned, which differs little from an examination of any other cardiological diseases:
- blood test for high and low density cholesterol (lipid profile);
- electrocardiogram;
- Echocardiography;
- computed or magnetic resonance imaging;
- angiography of blood vessels;
- X-ray of the heart.
There is no need to go through the entire list of analyzes. In each individual case, the doctor determines a list of laboratory and functional studies separately.
Treatment methods
The exact causes of the development of cardiomyopathy are not known to be takotsubo. Therefore, specialists cannot currently offer a universal plan to combat the disease. Doctors usually prescribe a course of therapy that is similar in principles to the treatment of hypertension. Using it, you can prevent complications such as a heart attack or stroke.
Drug treatment includes antihypertensive drugs: ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers. The cause of "broken heart syndrome" is often an emotional shock. Therefore, for therapeutic purposes, it is necessary to use medications that help stabilize the emotional state. Pick them yourself is not worth it. Firstly, such drugs must be taken in fairly long courses. Secondly, they have a large number of side effects and can be addictive.
To stop the symptoms of "broken heart" syndrome , you can use antidepressants, tranquilizers, vegetative stabilizers. With a slight severity of the manifestations of pathology, it is better to use herbal preparations. Their action is softer. The therapeutic effect will need to wait longer, but the likelihood of side effects is reduced to almost zero.
So that the body has enough strength and energy to eliminate somatic disorder, a person needs to receive good nutrition during the rehabilitation period. The question of the absorption of vitamins in the form of tablets is still open. However, the benefits of minerals derived from food are enormous.
The diet itself should be drawn up taking into account the presence of cardiovascular pathology. From the menu should completely exclude coffee, strong tea, alcohol, fatty and salty foods. The purpose of such a diet is to reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, which complicates the work of the heart muscle.
Treatment of "broken heart syndrome" consists of a set of procedures aimed at alleviating the state of health and preventing life-threatening complications. Independent struggle with this ailment is extremely undesirable. It is better to find a specialist who will monitor the process of therapy and subsequent rehabilitation. For example, residents of the capital with this problem may contact the Bakulev Cardiology Center.
Prevention Methods
It is very difficult to prevent the development of the syndrome, because pathology is a physiological reaction to a strong emotional experience. On the other hand, stress resistance is a property of the human body that can theoretically be developed.
To do this, you must adhere to the rules of a healthy lifestyle, namely to engage in physical activity. For this purpose, an ordinary person should spend at least 300 minutes of his own time per week. In this case, the body should not be given excessive loads that adversely affect the state of the tissues of the heart and blood vessels.
Nutrition is also important. The use of large amounts of fatty and high-calorie foods provokes the development of atherosclerosis, which destroys blood vessels and changes the composition of the blood. Inadequate nutrition provokes hormonal imbalance, which can cause complications from all body systems.
A key role in the successful prevention of any pathology is played by regular visits to the doctor for medical examination. A person can independently choose exactly where to turn to him: to the district clinic, the Bakulevsky Cardiology Center, a private office of a cardiologist. At the same time, it is recommended to visit a specialist at least once a year, including in the absence of serious health problems or severe symptoms of heart failure.
Possible complications
Despite the lack of universal therapeutic measures to combat pathology, it is imperative after its detection to comply with all the instructions of the attending physician. Do not refuse medical treatment, following a fairly strict diet. These measures are aimed not only at eliminating the disease, but also at protecting the cardiovascular system from the development of the following complications:
- chronic heart failure;
- heart attack;
- arrhythmia;
- thromboembolism;
- pulmonary edema.
Forecast
With stressful cardiomyopathy, the risk of death is extremely low, but still exists. With a timely visit to the doctor and the implementation of all his recommendations, recovery occurs after about 2 months.
Knowing the main causes and initial manifestations of the pathological process, do not hesitate to treat it. You should immediately seek qualified medical help. In addition, this information allows you to prevent the development of the disease in the early stages, therefore, to avoid the appearance of possible complications.