A Broken Heart Can Be Deadly: New Research Reveals Surprising Facts

More and more people are affected by the so-called broken heart syndrome – and the death rate is much higher than previously believed. Are you aware of the warning signs?

What Is Broken Heart Syndrome?

• Clinically known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, according to Illustreret Videnskab
• A temporary heart failure caused by extreme emotional or physical stress
• Symptoms include chest pain, heart palpitations, and shortness of breath
• Often triggered by events like divorce, the death of a loved one, financial trouble, or illness

A Deadly and Overlooked Condition

• A research team from the Sarver Heart Center at the University of Arizona led the study
• Over 200,000 Americans were analyzed between 2016 and 2020
• 6.5% died from the condition each year
• The death rate is twice as high compared to other heart-related illnesses

Why Is It Called Takotsubo?

• Named by Japanese doctors in 1990
• During an attack, the heart’s left ventricle changes shape
• It resembles a traditional Japanese octopus trap, called a takotsubo

What Happens to the Heart?

• Stress hormones like adrenaline play a major role
• The left ventricle temporarily becomes deformed
• The condition is linked to serious complications:
  • Heart failure (36%)
  • Atrial fibrillation (20%)
  • Stroke (5%)
  • Cardiac arrest (3.4%)

Mortality Rates Are Rising

• Increased from 5.63% in 2016 to 8.38% in 2020
• Particularly deadly for men:
  • 11.2% of male patients died, compared to 5.5% of women
• Older adults are especially at risk
• Mortality spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic

Women Get It More – But Men Die More

• 83% of patients were women, especially those in menopause
• Hormonal changes make the heart more sensitive to stress
• Despite this, men are twice as likely to die from it

A Call for More Research

• Researchers were surprised by the high number of deaths and complications
• White individuals were affected more often than other ethnic groups
• There is a strong need for better treatment and increased awareness
• The study was published in the Journal of the American Heart Association