Believe it or not, a broken heart is not just a cliche for writing cheesy pop tunes and it appears that this phenomenon is actually possible, according to science. Accoring to a case report done by Texas doctors, one girl suffered from broken heart syndrome after the death of her puppy. Read on to learn more about how the doctors diagnosed the girl and why this happened.
Having Your Heart Broken Is Actually Possible
As seen in the New England Journal of Medicine, the young woman was rushed to the ER after she started experiencing chest ache and high blood pressure. At first, it appeared as if she could be having a heart attack. However, the X-rays showed that there was nothing wrong with her coronary artery. After an echocardiography, the doctors discovered signs of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, also known as broken heart syndrome.
Broken Heart Syndrome Explained
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy occurs when the heart muscle weakens all of a sudden. And, the left ventricle of the heart transforms into a shape similar to a bulging pot with a narrow neck, similar to the strands used for capturing octopus. In most cases, it is a consequence of psychological stress, but the exact reason has not been yet discovered. Some experts associate it with hormones, like adrenaline, which stun the heart muscle and modify the cells of the heart muscle or coronary blood vessels.
What Caused a Broken Heart Syndrome in the Girl?
According to the girl’s statements, she was devastated because her puppy, a Yorkshire terrier, died. She could not be consoled and took it really hard. For her, this was a genuinely heartbreaking situation and she considers that dogs provide the needed calmness and love; Her disease, as she claims, will not avert her from continuing to have pets.
What about Recovery?
In most situations, both men and women succesfully recover from this syndrome. When it comes to the above-mentioned case, the girl was prescribed ACE inhibitors to relax her blood vessels in combination with beta-blockers to minimize her psychological stress. A year after the incident, on her doctor’s appointment, it was established that she completely recovered.
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