Broken Heart Syndrome in Women on the Rise; How Can Moms Prevent Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy?

Cases of Broken Heart Syndrome have been increasing during the pandemic, and the experts said that it's the women who are mostly at risk of this concerning condition.

In an interview on "Good Morning America," Dr. Noel Bairey Merz of the Barbra Streisand Heart Center in Los Angeles said that the uptick of broken heart syndrome diagnosis in women needs to be addressed as this condition is a major component of heart disease, one of the leading killers in women. Aside from the Barbra Streisand Heart Center, Johns Hopkins in Baltimore and the Cleveland Clinic have also recorded more cases of the condition known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy was first discovered in Japan in the 1990s among five percent of women who have had a heart attack. The condition is characterized by chest pains, shortness of breath, and some movement abnormalities or ballooning in the left side of the heart's chambers. However, Takotsubo cardiomyopathy does not cause permanent heart muscle damage, unlike an actual heart attack.

The condition is also believed to be triggered by physical stress, an illness, a serious accident, or a death or loss of a loved one, hence the term "broken heart." If left unchecked, the heart muscles could eventually weaken, leading to rapid-onset cardiomyopathy.

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Did COVID-19 Cause the Increase?

A study published in the JAMA Network indicated that of the 1,914 patients treated at the Cleveland Clinic, who have a range of conditions in the heart, 7.8 percent had stress cardiomyopathy during the pandemic. This was a significant increase compared to the 1.5 to 1.8 percent of cases before 2020.

Another study found in the Journal of the American Heart Association showed that middle-aged women and senior women were ten times more susceptible to have the condition than younger women and men. Susan Cheng, one of the study authors, told Fox News that Broken Heart Syndrome might have been rising before the global public health crisis, but doctors are only recently learning of its prevalence. Her team is currently doing more studies on the implications and risk factors of the condition for the long term.

Dr. Jennifer Wong of the Memorial Care Heart and Vascular Institute in Orange Coast Medical Center in California said that the pandemic could have aggravated the condition. She said it's a direct impact since stress-induced heart conditions will spike in stressful situations.

Older women could be more vulnerable as well because of menopause and their declining estrogen, which works to protect the heart from stress hormones. Thus, women of a certain age are more prone to developing sudden stress as their estrogen levels trickle down.

Preventing the Risks of Broken Heart Syndrome

The experts said that finding tools to reduce stress during very emotional events can help lower the risks of broken heart syndrome. However, it's easier said than done for many women during this pandemic, especially mothers who have to juggle home, kids, and work altogether.

Nonetheless, it will help mothers to devote time to themselves and engage in stress-busting activities. For some, yoga and aerobic exercise are major stress relievers. Other moms may also increase time devoted to their self-care, including some pampering, taking longer relaxing baths, or indulging in a hobby.

It might also help if mothers spend less screen time and focus on healthier pursuits like sleeping earlier and longer or learning how to cook and prepare healthy meals. Limiting caffeine intake to just one or two cups a day may also do wonders to the mothers' anxiety or stress levels.

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