Sorrow, distress can lead to illness – The Times Herald

By Michael C. Upton

Reading Eagle correspondent

The adage of someone dying from a broken heart may be more of a maxim than a myth.

Fact is, leading medical institutions such as the Mayo Clinic and American Heart Association warn of the dangers of what they refer to as broken heart syndrome. Medical specialists ranging from chiropractors to energy medicine practitioners have seen the physical effects an emotional situation can create.

Defining a broken heart

In more medical language, the syndrome is called stress-induced cardiomyopathy or takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Experts agree women are more likely than men to experience the sudden, intense chest pain caused by an emotionally stressful event.

The pain is a reaction to a surge of stress hormones in the body and can be misdiagnosed as a heart attack because of similar symptoms and test results. According to the heart association, tests in patients suffering from the syndrome show dramatic changes in heart rhythm and blood substances that are typical of a heart attack. Unlike a heart attack, there is no evidence of blocked arteries.

Broken heart syndrome causes a part of the heart to temporarily enlarge, affecting its ability to pump regularly.

According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, an estimated 1.2 million people in the United States suffered an interruption of blood supply to the heart in 2007 and approximately 1% experienced broken heart syndrome. According to a study sponsored by the Cardiovascular Research Institute at Washington Hospital Center, fatal cases although few, have been rising steadily especially in postmenopausal women.

Signs and symptoms

All of the systems (in a human body) work together, and there is a hierarchy, said holistic registered nurse and energy medicine practitioner Jennifer Marcenelle. The heart is actually at the top of the hierarchy and it runs all of the system.

Marcenelle treats clients with ailments ranging from poor relationship choices to fibromyalgia, a disorder causing widespread musculoskeletal pain. A larger portion of her practice works with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, sufferers.

If you are predisposed with a breathing issue (or others), those illnesses can get triggered when you are dealing with matters of the heart, Marcenelle said. Or, if you are prone to digestive issues.

According to the heart association, the most common signs and symptoms of broken heart syndrome are chest pain and shortness of breath. Irregular heartbeats called arrhythmias or cardiogenic shock, when the heart is suddenly weakened and cannot pump enough blood to meet the bodys needs, may also occur with the syndrome. Without treatment, this can be fatal.

The Mayo Clinic warns: If you're having any chest pain, a very rapid or irregular heartbeat, or shortness of breath after a stressful event, call 911 or emergency medical assistance immediately.

Stressing out

As heartbreak erroneously implies, the death of a loved one or emotional rejection is not the only trigger. The Mayo Clinic warns about domestic abuse, financial windfalls or losses, divorce and even public speaking.

Stress can cause a lot of negative reactions because of something called psychosomatic pain, said Dr. Tyler Rank of the Spine and Wellness Center, Reading. That is physical pain that can be caused, increased or prolonged by any kind of mental, emotional or behavioral factors. One of the most common factors of psychosomatic pain is heartache.

One of the first question the chiropractor asks his patients is if they are under any stress.

The biggest thing is the stress that comes along with heartache, grief, and loss, (which) can manifest into physical things such as headaches and nausea, Rank said.

Marcenelle has seen firsthand the adverse effects of emotional situations on the heart.

I have had a fascination with the physical hurt all my life, Marcenelle said, who was first certified in CPR at age nine.

The fascination led to critical care nursing and work in the emergency room.

I have been all things cardiac and things of the heart pretty much all my life, Marcenelle said.

Die of a broken heart

While working in the emergency room, Marcenelle witnessed a patient die of a broken heart. A mother collapsed on the floor, clutched her chest and died instantly after her 25-year-old son died as a result of injuries sustained from a motor vehicle accident.

The incident prompted Marcenelle to refocus her career, and she eventually authored the book From Burning Out to Burning Bright."

Marcenelle warns about relying too heavily on unhealthy coping techniques, which can put the heart at even more risk.

Experts agree it is rare, but drug use may also be a factor causing broken heart syndrome from a surge of stress hormones. According to the Mayo Clinic, some drugs such as Epinephrine, Duloxetine, Venlafaxine and Levothyroxine may contribute to broken heart syndrome. Unprescribed or illegal stimulants, such as methamphetamine and cocaine, can be a factor.

Treatment

There is not a standard treatment for broken heart syndrome

Most medical professionals will treat an acute episode such as a heart attack. If diagnosed, a stay in the hospital for recovery is often recommended. Doctors may prescribe heart medications such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, beta blockers, angiotensin II receptor blockers, or diuretics to help reduce the pressure on the heart.

Marcenelle is an advocate of positive and holistic healing techniques.

As a chiropractor, I always ask my patients if they are under any stress in their life, Rank said. I want to get a full, personal approach with my patients. That way I can understand why some things may not be responding as well as others.

Contact Michael C. Upton: specialsections@readingeagle.com.

Readout:

While working in the emergency room, Marcenelle witnessed a patient die of a broken heart. A mother collapsed on the floor, clutched her chest and died instantly after her 25-year-old son died as a result of injuries sustained from a motor vehicle accident.

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Sorrow, distress can lead to illness - The Times Herald