My grandparents were together for
nearly 60 years. Theirs was a love that endured through the many trials of
life. She was a nurse and he was an athlete. Together, they built a happy life
as immigrants in America.
They had seven lovely kids, the
fourth of whom was my father.
When my grandfather died, my
aunts and uncles, all agreed — heads hung low and voices somber — that my
grandmother would soon follow.
My grandmother’s health soon
deteriorated and she passed away over a year later. “See, you can die of a
broken heart,” a cousin told me during the wake.
It still came as a shock, of
course, but there was peace in knowing they were together again.
You can die of a broken heart.
Here’s the science behind it
It can be both saddening and
touching to hear stories of couples who die within years, or even hours, of each
other.
In 2015, a Malaysian couple died
within hours of each other. They had been together for 80 years and raised 10
children together. They were buried side by side.
Back in 2011, a couple from Iowa,
U.S.A. died holding hands after 72 blissful years of marriage.
But is there scientific fact
behind how you can die of a broken heart?
The British Medical Journal
published a study exploring how the death of a beloved partner increases the
risk of irregular heart rate in just a month.
It’s no secret that a broken
heart can cause serious mental and emotional difficulties, but research is
making it clear that its effects extend to even our physical health.
Losing a loved one can cause
severe distress. While others may be equipped to handle it, others struggle
with coping.
Even those in unhappy marriages
can die of a broken heart, says research
Broken heart syndrome, or
stress-induced cardiomyopathy (or Takotsubo cardiomyopathy) afflicts even those
who are healthy. Though research continues to explore the condition, it is
recognised by experts around the world as an official medical condition.
Broken heart syndrome is
described as sudden, intense chest pain caused by an emotionally stressful
occurrence. It could be preceded by the unexpected death of a loved one, or
even divorce, betrayal or rejection.
Those with broken heart syndrome
experience a surge of hormones, which enlarges the heart, and keeps it from
pumping properly.
Though broken heart syndrome can
lead to severe heart muscle failure, it is often treatable. In fact, the
American Heart Association assures us that recovery can take just a few weeks.
But for some, it can be fatal.
What are the symptoms of ‘broken
heart syndrome?’
If you experience any of the
following symptoms, consult your doctor immediately:
- Angina (chest pain), even though they have never had any heart disease
- Shortness of breath
- Irregular hearbeat (arrhythmia)
- Cardiogenic shock, which is when it can be fatal
As their symptoms are similar,
“broken heart syndrome” is often confused with a heart attack. Here’s how to
tell them apart:
- In broken heart syndrome, blood tests indicate no history of heart damage.
- An EKG test can distinguish between the two.
- Those with broken heart syndrome, unlike those suffering a heart attack, don’t have blocked coronary arteries or ballooning or irregular movement of the left chamber of the heart.
- In broken heart syndrome, recovery can take just a few days or weeks — unlike heart attacks, which require over a month of recovery.
The cause of stress-induced
cardiomyopathy isn’t always negative. There is such a thing as happy heart
syndrome, and it plays a role in about 1.1% of broken heart syndrome cases.
Dr. Harmony Reynolds tells
Healthline that broken heart syndrome can be prevented through exercising and
relaxation techniques, such as yoga.
It’s fascinating how much more
research can shed light on the effects broken hearts can have on our lives.
What mums and dads should take away from this is that loving in a healthy way
means caring for yourself as much as you care for your better half!
This article was first published
on AfricaParent.com
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