Diagnose & Treatment of Broken Heart Syndrome

Broken Heart Syndrome

- Diagnose & Treatment -

Diagnose of Broken Heart Syndrome

After completing a physical exam and reviewing your medical history, your healthcare provider will order several tests including: 

•  An EKG (electrocardiogram) to measure your heart’s electrical activity. 
• Coronary angiography (uses a dye and type of X-ray to look at your heart’s arteries).
•  Echocardiography (uses sound waves to create moving images of your heart’s pumping action). 
• Chest X-ray (shows the structure of your heart, lungs and blood vessels). 
• Cardiac MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) (produces both still and moving pictures of your heart). 
• Ventriculogram (uses a dye injected into the heart’s left ventricle, then X-rays show the size and pumping efficiency of this heart chamber).

How to treat Broken Heart Syndrome

Treatment depends on the severity of your symptoms. Broken heart syndrome is usually treated with medicines until full recovery. Medications include: 

•  ACE inhibitors to lower blood pressure (long term). 
• Beta blockers to slow the heart rate (short term). 
• Diuretics to decrease fluid buildup (short term). 
• Anti-anxiety medicines to manage stress. (These medications may be long term, if needed.) 

Depending on how much your heart muscle was weakened, your healthcare provider may also recommend cardiac rehabilitation. Managing your stress with yoga, meditation and other relaxation techniques can also be helpful. Ask your healthcare provider for information on these methods and possible programs and services available.

Can this be prevented ?

 There are no known treatments for preventing broken heart syndrome. However, learning stress management and problem-solving techniques can help improve physical and emotional stress. Engaging in relaxation techniques can also be helpful. 

Some examples include: 

•  Practicing yoga, meditation, journaling, or mindfulness. 
• Taking a warm bath; lighting scented candles; and 
• taking long, deep breaths and slowly exhaling. 

Depending on the source of your stress, there may be a support group you can join to talk about your stress and share coping skills with others who have had similar experiences. Seeking the help of a professional counselor might be considered too. 

In addition, managing physical or emotional stress can be helped by following general healthy habits too. These include: 

•  Eating a healthy diet, such as the Dash diet or Mediterranean diet. 
• Getting regular exercise (at least five times a week for 30 minutes). 
• Getting seven to nine hours of sleep each night. 
• Spending time with others. 
• Keeping your medical appointments, for both follow up and preventive health screenings. Finding and treating any health problems early always leads to the best outcome for a long and healthy life. 
• Avoid – or better yet – stop unhealthy choices such as smoking, illicit drug use, and alcohol abuse.

Source : Cleveland Clinic