What kind of broken heart

Patients with physical stressors have a worse prognosis due to neurologic events, like a stroke. Since the heart muscle is not permanently damaged, most patients with broken heart syndrome continue to live healthy lives. It is important to follow up with a cardiologist who is familiar with this syndrome and who can tell you when your heart muscle has fully recovered.

Early on, the cardiologist may want to treat you with standard medications for heart muscle weakness, but this will depend on several factors including your heart rate and blood pressure. Your doctor may suggest an exercise program including cardiac rehabilitation.

Avoiding stressful situations if possible is always recommended, and interventions to reduce stress such as biofeedback, meditation, yoga, physical rehabilitation and exercise can be very helpful to some patients with this syndrome.

Health Home Conditions and Diseases. What is broken heart syndrome? What causes broken heart syndrome? Emotional Stressors Emotional stressors include: Grief Fear Extreme anger Surprise Physical Stressors These conditions include: High fever Stroke Seizure Difficulty breathing such as an asthma attack or emphysema Significant bleeding Low blood sugar What are the symptoms of broken heart syndrome?

The symptoms of broken heart syndrome can mimic symptoms of a heart attack , including: Chest pain Shortness of breath Diaphoresis sweating Dizziness These symptoms may begin as soon as minutes or as long as hours after an emotionally or physically stressful event. How does sudden stress lead to heart muscle weakness? What should I do if I feel the symptoms of broken heart syndrome? Is broken heart syndrome dangerous? In some cases, it can cause severe heart muscle weakness resulting in: Congestive heart failure Low blood pressure Shock Potentially life-threatening heart rhythm abnormalities The good news is that this condition can improve very quickly if patients are under the care of doctors familiar with the syndrome.

How does broken heart syndrome differ from a heart attack? I am under a great deal of stress every day. Is it possible that I have been walking around with broken heart syndrome and did not even know it? Who is at risk for getting broken heart syndrome? Stay on Top of Your Heart Health If you have a new or existing heart problem, it's vital to see a doctor. When people die from heart attacks, cardiogenic shock is the most common cause of death. Some signs and symptoms of broken heart syndrome differ from those of heart attack.

In broken heart syndrome, symptoms occur suddenly after extreme emotional or physical stress. Here are some other differences:. If your doctor thinks you have broken heart syndrome, you may need coronary angiography , a test that uses dye and special X-rays to show the insides of your coronary arteries. Other diagnostic tests are blood tests, EKG, echocardiography a painless test that uses sound waves to create moving pictures of your heart and cardiac MRI.

Talk with your doctor about how often you should schedule follow-up visits. Written by American Heart Association editorial staff and reviewed by science and medicine advisers. See our editorial policies and staff. Cardiomyopathy in Adults. Pediatric Cardiomyopathies. Understand Your Risk for Cardiomyopathy. Symptoms and Diagnosis of Cardiomyopathy.

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