Time doesn’t heal a broken heart after all, say experts

THEY are words of comfort given to generations of the heartbroken – ‘time heals all wounds’.

But a study by a team of Scots scientists appears to have discovered the complete opposite.

Researchers at the University of Aberdeen have found a condition known as ‘broken heart syndrome’ may cause longlasting damage to the muscle.

The condition – known as Takotsubo syndrome – was once thought to cause only temporary heart problems in those suffering severe stress.

Instances have been recorded among those suffering from the death of a loved-one, a messy break-up or even the passing of a beloved pet.

The condition, which affects some 3,000 people in the UK each year, has similar symptoms to a heart attack as the muscle is ‘stunned’ by the event.

The exact physiological cause of the ‘stun’ remains a mystery, with one leading theory claiming that it is caused by a flush of adrenaline following the stressful situation.

Scientists have found that the event causes the left ventricle of the heart to change shape, affecting its ability to pump blood.

Reader in Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Aberdeen, Dr Dana Dawson, who led the research, said: ‘We used to think that people who suffered from Takotsubo cardiomyopathy would fully recover, without medical intervention. Here, we’ve shown that this disease has much longer lasting damaging effects on the hearts of those who suffer from it.’

She added: ‘Recent studies have shown that this disease is not as rare as we thought, so finding out the effect that it has on sufferers’ hearts is increasingly important.’

As part of their research, funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF), scientists in Aberdeen followed 52 Takotsubo patients over four months, finding out that the temporary event of ‘heartbreak’ could have lasting consequences.

Using ultrasound and cardiac MRI scans to look at patients in minute detail, they found that the disease had permanently affected the heart’s pumping motion.

The twisting or ‘wringing’ motion made by the heart during the heartbeat was delayed and the squeezing movement was reduced.

They also found that parts of the heart muscle were replaced by fine scars, reducing elasticity and preventing it from contracting properly.

Researchers say these findings may go a long way towards explaining why Takotsubo sufferers have similar long-term survival rates to people struck down by heart attacks.

Associate medical director at the BHF, Professor Metin Avkiran said: ‘This study has shown that in some patients who develop Takotsubo syndrome, various aspects of heart function remain abnormal for up to four months afterwards.

‘Worryingly, these patients’ hearts appear to show a form of scarring, indicating that full recovery may take much longer, or indeed may not occur, with current care.

‘This highlights the need to urgently find new and more effective treatments for this devastating condition.’

Takotsubo syndrome was first studied in Japan in 1990. It was named after the takotsubo pots used to trap octopuses because their shape is similar to a ballooned left ventricle.

Due to hormonal differences, 90 per cent of those suffering from the syndrome are women.

It can also affect those experiencing a period of great happiness. A 2016 study revealed a number of sufferers fell ill in the middle of life events such as parties or weddings.