By the way . . . You CAN suffer from a broken heart

TOMORROW is Valentine’s Day — exciting and exhilarating for those expecting a card. But for those who are alone or recently single, is it physically possible to suffer a broken heart?

The answer is yes, although it’s unlikely that the instigating factor will be the absence of a Valentine’s card.

There is a genuine medical condition called Takotsubo syndrome. It’s a temporary condition that occurs when the heart is “stunned” and part of it stops beating effectively. The cause is usually determined as a recent stress situation — this can be emotional or physical.

It’s been seen after emotionally stressful events such as weddings and funerals and even after natural disasters. So in theory, something like the death of a life-long partner could be a trigger.

Not surprisingly, women seem to be affected more than men. Research from Japan revealed more than 90% of reported cases were in women aged 58-75. There is thought to be a connection with the loss of the protective hormones during menopause, in terms of the age/sex distribution. Ultimately it seems it’s true that girls get their hearts broken more than boys.

The scientific terminology is acute stressinduced cardiomyopathy. The Takotsubo name means octopus pot in Japanese — the part of the heart which gets damaged (the pumphouse that is the left ventricle of the heart ) is said to take on a similar shape to a lobster pot as a result.

So what are the symptoms of a broken heart? Chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness and palpitations are the main ones. Less so crying and not wanting to leave the house! It generally gives rise to pretty classic symptoms in the context of cardiac events.

While there is no cure for this condition the good news is that the damage done to the heart is generally reversible with time. So even if a break up leads to Takotsubo Syndrome, it’s unlikely to truly break you. As your mother probably said, you will get over it, dear, in time.

Happy Valentine’s Day!