Did you know that feeling an intense amount of stress can change the shape of your heart? The heart’s reaction to a surge of stress hormones can cause the left ventricle to stretch and temporarily disrupt the heart’s normal pumping function. It can feel like you are having a heart attack but it’s actually a condition called Broken Heart Syndrome.
Studies have shown that cases of Broken Heart Syndrome have been on the rise, specifically in middle-aged women. The stress of the pandemic is certainly to blame, but other events such as the death of a loved one, job loss, divorce, or even a surprise party can trigger it.
What steps can you take to avoid Broken Heart Syndrome?
- Accept that you will grieve
- Find a caring support group (family, friends, ect)
- Take care of your physical self, this will help emotionally
- See full list here
The good news is with a proper diagnoses and a treatment plan, this condition can go away.
