Takotsubo: What happens to your body when you get your heart broken?

You may have experienced heartbreak due to a broken relationship or from the death of a loved one. When this happens, some people may recover after a short while, but some others remain inconsolable for longer periods. What exactly does it mean to have a broken heart and how does really look inside your body?

Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy

Experts reveal that this condition is called ‘Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy.’ St Vincent’s Hospital Heart Healthgives this definition:

Takotsubo Cardiomyppathy is a temporary heart condition that develops in response to an intense emotional or physical experience. It’s also known as stress cardiomyopathy or broken heart syndrome.

In this condition, the heart’s main pumping chamber changes shape, affecting the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively.

The heart’s chamber looks similar to a Tako -Tsubo pot, which is a Japanese fishing pot used to catch octopus.

Broken heart syndrome

The factors that can cause this condition are extreme stress and pain due to the loss of a loved one, both physically and emotionally. This is why the condition is literally called ‘broken heart syndrome.’ When this occurs, the heart muscles become completely weak. Doctors say that although the symptoms can be quite severe, it is temporary as it lasts for a maximum period of two months.

Takotsubo can occur in people of all ages, but it is predominantly rampant among older women.

The signs that you may be experiencing this condition include very acute chest pain, lack of breath, fainting from being overly stressed.

In a recent report by Mail Online, a UK veterinary nurse, Sarah Woodward, lost a close relative and as a result experienced this condition. She said when she heard her best friend’s father had died, she started feeling acute pains in her chest and the pain moved quickly to other parts of her body. She was immediately rushed to the hospital, where she was diagnosed of having broken heart syndrome. Reports say that she had been completely healthy before the heart attack happened, as she never smoked nor drank and was quite actively involved in kickboxing.