Discover the broken heart syndrome: why on Valentine's Day?

This statement was issued on the eve of Valentine's Day to raise awareness of the issue.

A study published by the American Heart Association (AHA) revealed that middle-aged and older women are 10 times more likely to suffer from this syndrome than men or younger women. Dr. Salvatori highlighted the fundamental role between brain and heart in this context.

 It is important to consider other factors such as stress, depression or sadness when assessing cardiac well-being, as they are not as easily quantifiable as cholesterol, blood pressure or blood glucose levels.

Therefore, the SAC and FCA recommend seeing a doctor if symptoms related to this problem occur so that they can be treated in time.

 Takotsubo syndrome, also known as broken heart syndrome, is a relatively recent cause described in Japan during the 1990s.

This condition is characterized by a change in the shape of the heart, which acquires a bulging shape with a narrow neck - similar to the vessel used by Japanese fishermen to catch octopuses - after suffering a type of cardiac insult.

According to Salvatori, this syndrome is mainly related to non-modifiable factors such as genetic background or age; however, there are also other factors associated with the development of this pathology that are modifiable, such as arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, diabetes and obesity.

In addition, there are psychosocial factors that contribute to cardiovascular risk and can be considered as part of the differential diagnosis for Takotsubo syndrome.

Treatment includes medication to control modifiable cardiovascular risk factors associated with the development of the syndrome and cognitive-behavioral therapy to help manage underlying emotional problems.

 Takotsubo syndrome is a heart disease characterized by symptoms similar to those of myocardial infarction.

This condition occurs mainly in postmenopausal women, who after experiencing some kind of unexpected stress (physical or emotional) release excessive adrenaline.

Key signs include chest pain, shortness of breath, EKG abnormalities, and elevated cardiac enzymes; however, the cause is not arterial occlusion as with atherosclerotic disease.

 The results of the catheterization will show that the arteries of the heart are normal; however, there is a decrease in blood flow to the tip of the heart which causes a temporary weakening. Fortunately this effect usually disappears after a few weeks and the heart returns to normal contraction.

Takotsubo syndrome can also be caused by other factors such as long-term use of high blood pressure medications or chronic alcohol abuse.