Love Sick
Sun Herald
Sunday July 27, 2008
Science is realising what poets and romantics have known for centuries: heartbreak can be fatal.
The subject of countless love songs has also become a focus of scientific research in recent years and guess what? Having your heart stomped on can be very bad for your health. The link between mind and body is no longer controversial. It's now generally accepted that happiness plays an important role in health. Depression can be physically detrimental and the damage stress inflicts on the body is well known. But perhaps the most striking insight into the connection between mind and body is the discovery of a condition researchers have nicknamed "broken heart syndrome". Following deep sorrow and sudden emotional distress, this syndrome can generate a set of symptoms so closely mimicking a heart attack - chest pain, nausea, dizziness, shortness of breath - sufferers have been misdiagnosed with full heart failure. "Broken heart syndrome, or stress cardiomyopathy, as it's medically known, is a relatively new condition we are learning about," explains Dr Christopher Semsarian, molecular cardiologist at Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. "What is clear is that our emotions impact on our hearts. Our hearts respond mechanically, by increasing our heart rate, and chemically, by releasing hormones such as adrenaline. It's believed this surge of hormones can 'stun' the heart, preventing it from pumping properly and causing an otherwise healthy person to experience heart failure."According to America's Johns Hopkins Heart Institute, symptoms typically begin minutes after the victim has suffered a severe stress. Within hours, a person with no previous heart-disease risk can find themselves fighting for their lives. Dramatic though this is - many patients require aggressive cardiac care - not only do they survive, heart function recovers completely. "It can lead to permanent damage," says Semsarian. "But this is unusual. Most patients make a full and swift recovery."The condition is rare, however researchers believe an increased understanding of broken heart syndrome is likely to result in greater numbers of future hospital diagnoses. So, how can we minimise the risks? "It's difficult," says Semsarian. "There are still more questions than answers but it's safe to say we now have undeniable evidence that trying to lead a happy life would be extremely beneficial."
© 2008 Sun Herald