There is a label for the intense pain and suffering
that those who grieve may feel. It is called “Broken Heart Syndrome,” and it is
brought on by stressful situations, such as the death of a loved one. It
manifests as a temporary disruption of the heart’s normal pumping.
Symptoms can include chest pain and shortness of
breath. It affects more women than men. It is attributed to a reaction to a
surge of stress hormone, and can occur after the death of a child. The condition
may also be called takotsubo cardiomyopathy, apical ballooning syndrome or stress
cardiomyopathy by doctors.
It is treatable and the discomfort should abate with
time. It is definitely something you should discuss with your physician. Perhaps
there is something he can prescribe to help. It can be scary because you feel
like you are having a heart attack.
One mother said, “There are times that I hurt so
much from losing my child that I could swear that every bone in my body feels
as if they are breaking along with my heart.”
In addition to losing a child or any loved one, some
potential triggers of broken heart syndrome are
*A frightening medical diagnosis
*Domestic abuse
*Losing a lot of money
*Natural disasters
*Having to perform publicly
*Job loss
*Divorce
*Physical stressors, such as a car accident or major
surgery
It’s also possible that some drugs may cause this
condition by causing a surge of stress hormones. Again, it is recommended to
talk to your doctor.
Keep in mind that heart attacks are generally caused
by a complete or near complete blockage of a heart artery due to a blood clot
in the wall of the artery. In broken heart syndrome, the heart’s arteries are
not blocked, although blood flow in the arteries of the heart may be reduced.
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