<i>Broken heart syndrome</i>

Many of you might remember a common scene in a drama or movie where a manager suddenly enters the room of the boss and shouts — 'Sir, there is a huge fire in your factory. The loss is of more than crore taka'. In most cases, the boss grabs his chest and before fall-down exclaims, "Oh no, how it is possible! I am finished!'
This type of reaction, complaining of chest pain after receiving bad news or experiencing other types of stress reaction, is commonly depicted in television drama and movies — but it is not just fiction. It is a medical phenomenon referred to as Broken Heart Syndrome.
This phenomenon was first described medically in 1991 by Japanese doctors. Now-a-days, the condition is also referred to as 'stress cardiomyopathy', 'stress-induced cardiomyopathy' or 'apical ballooning syndrome'. It is a condition in which intense emotional or physical stress can cause rapid and severe heart muscle weakness (cardio-myopathy).
This condition can occur following a variety of emotional stressors such as grief (e.g. death of a loved one), fear, extreme anger, and surprise. It can also occur following numerous physical stressors to the body such as stroke, seizure, difficulty breathing (such as a flare of asthma or emphysema), or significant bleeding. Broken heart syndrome affects women far more than men. Some research indicates that almost 9 out of 10 cases occur in women, and of those, almost all are aged 50 or older.
Patients with this syndrome can have similar symptoms to patients with a heart attack including chest pain, shortness of breath, congestive heart failure, and low blood pressure.
Typically these symptoms begin just minutes to hours after the person has been exposed to a severe, and usually unexpected, stress. Though the name is 'broken heart', the symptoms are not limited only to cardiovascular area. Other common symptoms include stomachache and/or loss of appetite, nausea, fatigue, partial or complete sleeplessness, anger, loss of interest, feelings of loneliness, feelings of hopelessness and despair, feeling of complete emptiness, loss of self-respect and/or self-esteem.
This syndrome can easily be mistaken for heart attack. But with a closer look, there are major differences found during diagnosis. No standard treatment guidelines have yet been established because of the limited knowledge about the condition. Most people suffering from broken heart syndrome are initially treated similar to a heart attack victim. Many people are hospitalised and the diagnosis is often made in the hospital.
Doctors might prescribe medicines primarily. These medications may not be required long term, because heart function usually returns to normal. But remember that chest pain could be a sign of a heart attack. So, if you experience chest pain, don't ignore it. Take it seriously and seek immediate medical attention.
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