Prolonged emotional stress for quite a long period of time may contribute to serious heart-related issues that can even cause heart attack, claims a new study.
Traumatic events in someone's life can pose a threat to the person's heart condition causing perpetual damage. This is also known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy or "broken heart syndrome". Nearly 3,000 people were affected in the UK by the "broken heart syndrome". While examining the matter closely, researchers found that the syndrome is typically influenced by deprivation, loneliness and loss of a special someone.
"We once thought the effects of this life-threatening disease were temporary, but now we can see they can contribute to affect people for the rest of their lives," said Jeremy Pearson, Associate medical at BHF.
Previous research on the same suggested that damage caused by emotional imbalance or traumatic life events may not last long. However, the team of scientists suggests that the effects of this problem can be untreatable, long-lasting and permanent, like a heart attack. Scientists from the University of Aberdeen conducted the study.
In the study, which was funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF), the team of physicians examined 37 heart patients for an average period of two years along with ultrasound and MRI scans.
The Taksotsuba patients' symptoms cannot be treated, for the main damage to the heart's muscle tissue had destroyed the flexibility that prevented flexible contraction of the heart with every heartbeat. Scientists presented the data at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in Anaheim, California.
The team also found that more than 90 percent of Tokotsuba causes occur in women aged between 58 and 75 years.
"Takotsubo is a devastating disease that can suddenly strike down otherwise healthy people," said Jeremy.
"This new research shows there are long-term effects on heart health, and suggests we should be treating patients in a similar way to those who are at risk of heart failure, " he concluded.
.
.
