Broken Heart Syndrome is real, and here's what we know so far

Make no mistake about: There is really is a medical condition called the Broken Heart Syndrome, and it is usually menopausal women who experience it.

According to Dr. Michael Agbayani, a cardiologist at the Philippine Heart Center, Broken Heart Syndrome, or Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy, is a transient abnormality of the heart, like a heart attack.

“Yung ibang parte ng puso, humihina,” Dr. Agbayani says on a recent episode of Pinoy MD, adding the “pattern ng paghina, yung puso, nagkakaroon ng ibang hitsura, parang Japanese octopus.”

Stress from huge emotional events — like a breakup — is often the cause of Broken Heart Syndrome with a surge of stress hormones affecting the heart.

“Para heart attack, sumisikip ang dibdib at parang nahihirapan huminga,” continues Dr. Agbayani. Treating a Broken Heart Syndrome is similar to treating a heart attack, with doctors often prescribing medicines for heart failure to those with Broken Heart Syndrome.

Unlike a heart attack however, it’s easy to recover from the Broken Heart Syndrome, with Dr. Agbayani pegging recovery between just “a few days to 4-8 weeks. About 95% will recover between 4-8 and it will be back to normal.” — LA, GMA News