Broken Heart Syndrome 101: It Is Possible To Break Your Heart

Condition Complications & Prevention

There are numerous risk factors associated with broken heart syndrome, such as who is at the highest risk of developing this rare condition. Some of the risk factors include sex, as females are more affected than males; age, as most individuals who experience it are over the age of fifty; those afflicted with a neurological condition such as epilepsy; and a previous or current psychiatric disorder, such as anxiety or depression. Broken heart syndrome can be fatal, but this is rare. This condition can also lead to a few complications, such as a backup of fluid in the lungs, known as pulmonary edema; low blood pressure, known as hypotension; disrupted heartbeats; and heart failure.

Although prevention is not guaranteed, the chances of an individual experiencing another episode of this syndrome are incredibly low. There is no proven form of therapy to prevent additional attacks, however, many physicians recommend long-term treatment with beta blockers or similar medications able to block the potentially damaging effects of stress hormones on the heart in an educated attempt to try and prevent it from occurring again.

Broken heart syndrome can happen to anyone, as we all deal with stress, but thankfully with the proper treatment and individuals managing their stress, this rare condition is unlikely to affect the majority of us.