Table of contents:
- Is it true that a broken heart can cause death?
- How can a broken heart kill you?
- Recognizing when grief has turned into depression
- How to prevent?
- How to help someone who has a broken heart?
Heartbreak sometimes makes a person feel really down. Being abandoned by a partner for various reasons makes us feel that the world is no longer meaningful. Not infrequently, we feel worthless, there is nothing else to fight for after the partner leaves. Stress and depression are also at risk when someone feels down. Heartbreak is not just a temporary separation or rejection, it can involve being separated by death. However, have you ever heard the news that someone died after being abandoned by their partner? It turns out that this phenomenon can occur and is known as broken heart syndrome.
Is it true that a broken heart can cause death?
Broken heart syndrome as known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, was first discovered by a researcher who came from Japan more than 20 years ago. This syndrome can affect the heart's ability to pump normally. However, this syndrome is only temporary. Symptoms that arise can include shortness of breath and chest pain. According to David Greuner, M.D., director NYC Surgical Associates, the site quoted Women's Health, these symptoms are caused by the nature of the heart which is responsive to stress hormones such as adrenaline, epinephrine, and cortisol. This syndrome can interfere with a person's survival, it can even cause death.
Research shows an increase in death and heart disease due to the departure of a partner. Research published in Circulation, quoted by the Healthline website, found that people who grieve after the death of a loved one are very likely to die of a heart attack.
A broken heart can indeed cause problems with your heart, and the symptoms you experience are almost the same as a heart attack, but chest pain with a broken heart is different from a heart attack. According to cardiologist dr. Lawrence Weinstein, medical director at Bethesda Memorial Hospital's Chest Pain / Heart Failure Center, was quoted as saying by Healthline.com, the difference is that the arteries of people with broken heart syndrome are clear, there are no blockages.
When we hear "heartbreak", we immediately think of teenagers. We also assume that it is adolescents who suffer from this syndrome, because those times are when children like the opposite sex and their emotional state is not yet stable. Sometimes the romantic stories don't end beautifully. However, the correct answer is that this syndrome is usually experienced by postmenopausal women and the reason is not yet clear, according to dr. Richard Krasuski, a cardiologist at Cleveland Clinic.
How can a broken heart kill you?
Stress hormones flow into the bloodstream, thereby speeding up the heart rate, increasing blood pressure, tense muscles, and activate immune cells. Blood is diverted from the digestive system to the muscles and makes it easy to clot. Increasing blood pressure and cholesterol levels can also be caused by stress, and when this happens, the rhythm of the heart is disturbed. Stress hormones can also make blood vessels constrict. Researcher from Duke University asked 58 men and women with coronary artery disease to use a heart monitor portable for two days and record them in a diary of what they did and felt.
Tension, frustration, and other negative emotions are thought to cause inadequate blood flow in the blood vessels that fill the heart. This condition is called myocardial ischemia (ischemic heart disease, a sign of a lack of blood flow to the heart muscle), which can lead to a heart attack.
Heartbreak can also lead to depression. Depression has been linked to stress and heart disease. Depression can also make stress hormones rise and can make the heart less responsive to “minute by minute” signals to slow down or increase blood flow.
Feelings of pain over loss indicate that a relationship is meaningful. When someone falls in love with each other, a relationship becomes more than just affectionate. Even though there is no black and white, death can damage a person's health. This sense of loss arises because we are used to his presence, his attention. When it's all gone, we not only lose the person, but also lose their attention and the way they treat us.
Recognizing when grief has turned into depression
Normal grief or sadness can sometimes look like depression, at least initially. Here are some signs to watch for when sadness turns into depression:
- A person becomes neglected, loses nutrition and weight, and experiences insomnia
- Chronic physical complaints
- Withdrawing from friends and family.
- Lack of interest in activities that are usually carried out
- Feeling hopeless that lasts for months
- Strong feeling of boredom
The bad news is that even when you are not experiencing broken heart syndrome, the emotional loss involved can still kill you.
How to prevent?
According to dr. Christopher Magovern, a cardiologist at Morristown Medical Center New Jersey, it is best to avoid stressful moments. Learn to be more open to others and seek their support. Here are other things you can do, such as:
- Meditate, exercise, or do yoga to manage stress
- Talk to people you care about
- Watch comedy movies
- Go out with your friends, especially single ones
- Keeping furry pets; like a cat or a dog
What not to do:
- Divert the pain by drinking alcohol
- Burst your emotions
- Avoid school and work because your heart is crushed. Even if you are in this situation, avoiding routine activities can actually make you feel worse.
What you need to remember is that being alone at home is not the right solution. Maybe you do need some time alone, but not too long. Still according to dr. Krasuki, going to sports and not thinking about your problem can be a good solution.
How to help someone who has a broken heart?
Helping someone who is going through deep grief is rather difficult. Some people don't want to hear people's good hopes, some people need to be embraced. Some people may easily pass step by step, some people get trapped and may think back to the past. All you have to do is keep in touch with the person, give them affection without looking sorry. If indeed the person is still in the normal grieving stage, then giving support is sufficient. However, when someone has shown symptoms of depression, it's time you seek help from a therapist or other professional.
