Takotsubo, also known as broken heart syndrome, is a condition that can cause sudden heart dysfunction and lead to serious health complications. This disease was first described in Japan in the 1990s and is now becoming an increasing concern among patients worldwide.
Takotsubo syndrome – What is it?
The mechanism of the disease known as Takotsubo syndrome is not yet fully understood. One theory suggests that the disorder results from a sudden and intense increase in stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol, in the patient's body. In such a situation, coronary artery spasm occurs.
This is how thins mechanism works in practice:
- narrowing of blood vessels,
- myocardial ischemia,
- heart muscle weakening and pathological changes in its function.
In the ICD-10 classification, Takotsubo syndrome can be found under the entry I42.8, where it is described as "Other Cardiomyopathies." In the literature, the term "Takotsubo cardiomyopathy" is also used.
Takotsubo Syndrome – Symptoms
Takotsubo syndrome is a condition characterized by a sudden and temporarily limited weakening of heart muscle function, often following intense emotional stress. Some of the symptoms of Takotsubo syndrome include:
- Sudden onset of chest pain
- Fainting or dizziness
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Weakness and fatigue
- Loss of consciousness or fainting
- Uncontrollable trembling or sweating
- Anxiety and fear
- Nausea or vomiting
- Abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia)
- Low blood preasure
These symptoms often resemble those occurring during a heart attack.
Therefore, when symptoms of Takotsubo appear, it is essential to seek medical help as soon as possible.
Takotsubo Syndrome - Risk Factors
Takotsubo disease can occur in people of all ages, however it most commonly affects postmenopausal women..
There are certain risk factors associated with the occurrence of this disease, such as:
- strong emotions and excessive stress,
- hypertension,
- neurological disorders,
- surgical procedures,
- the use of certain medications.
Treatment Options
The treatment of Takotsubo disease primarily focuses on reducing the levels of stress hormones in the patient's body. For this purpose, pain relievers, sedatives, and behavioral therapy are mainly used. In some rare cases, surgical intervention may be necessary.
Not only the achievements of modern conventional medicine may prove to be helpful.
Among the available market products that help combat stress, it seems worthwhile to consider hemp-based products, such as CBD oils. Their effects help alleviate stress, calm emotions, and restore homeostasis in the body. Personally, I recommend the Essenz hemp store as a source of high-quality hemp oils at very reasonable, if not exceptionally low, prices.
The most commonly mentioned treatment methods for Takotsubo in literature and articles include:
- Pharmacological treatment – The most commonly used medications are beta-blockers, which help control heart rate and blood pressure while also preventing heart failure. These medications may be used for several months or sometimes longer, depending on the patient's needs.
- Behavioral therapy – This therapy focuses on changing behaviors and thought patterns that may contribute to Takotsubo disease. Behavioral therapy can help in managing stress and emotions, which is crucial for this condition.
- Meditation – Meditation is one of the most effective methods for reducing stress and improving well-being. Practicing meditation can help increase stress resilience and reduce the risk of heart disease.
- Acupuncture – Acupuncture may help alleviate symptoms of Takotsubo disease, such as chest pain and shortness of breath. This method involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body to restore the body's energetic balance.
- Dietary supplements – Certain dietary supplements, such as magnesium, vitamins B6, B12, D, and E, as well as omega-3 fatty acids, may help alleviate symptoms of Takotsubo disease and improve cardiovascular function. Of course, supplements do not cure the condition but rather support the body's proper functioning, making it easier to restore the clearly disrupted homeostasis.
- Healthy lifestyle – Adopting lifestyle changes, such as regular physical exercise, a healthy diet, and avoiding smoking, can help improve cardiovascular function and reduce the risk of heart diseases, including Takotsubo disease.
- Heart supporting herbal tincture - Cardiotonic agents, including tinctures with strophanthin in drops, are another group of products worth considering if you're struggling with a broken heart or belong to a high-risk group. The glycosides contained in the preparation strengthen the heart muscle, supporting this organ in returning to proper function. Since the physiological symptoms of broken heart syndrome appear suddenly and unexpectedly, it's worth keeping a bottle of strophanthin on hand.
- Tinctures
Strophanthin Tincture 0,6% over 100 ml (7x15ml) - Set of 7 bottles
Pierwotna cena wynosiła: €280.00.€140.00Aktualna cena wynosi: €140.00. Read more - Tinctures
Strophanthin Tincture 0,6% over 50 ml (4x15ml) - Set of 4 bottles
Pierwotna cena wynosiła: €160.00.€95.00Aktualna cena wynosi: €95.00. Read more - Tinctures
Strophanthin Tincture 0,6% 30 ml (2x15ml) - Set of 2 bottles
Pierwotna cena wynosiła: €80.00.€65.00Aktualna cena wynosi: €65.00. Add to cart
In summary, Takotsubo syndrome can be treated using various methods, ranging from pharmaceutical drugs to natural approaches and dietary supplements. It is important to choose the appropriate treatment methods based on the patient's needs. Lifestyle changes are also essential.
Healing aspects of life such as physical activity, quality sleep and rest, and proper nutrition will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the functioning of your cardiovascular system, both now and in the future.
Scientific Research on Takotsubo
Research on Takotsubo syndrome is still ongoing, as the mechanism of this condition is not yet fully understood. In recent years, it has been discovered that the disease may be linked to neurological disorders, such as stroke. Therefore, researchers are looking for effective treatment methods for Takotsubo syndrome that take these connections into account.
The concept of broken heart syndrome itself is also an important direction of scientific research worldwide. In my opinion, a few interesting reads on this topic include:
- Singh T, Khan H, Gamble DT, Scally C, Newby DE, Dawson D. Takotsubo Syndrome: Pathophysiology, Emerging Concepts, and Clinical Implications. Circulation. 2022 Mar 29;145(13):1002-1019. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.121.055854. Epub 2022 Mar 28. Erratum in: Circulation. 2022 May 17;145(20):e1053. PMID: 35344411; PMCID: PMC7612566 (link)
- Omerovic E, Citro R, Bossone E, Redfors B, Backs J, Bruns B, Ciccarelli M, Couch LS, Dawson D, Grassi G, Iacoviello M, Parodi G, Schneider B, Templin C, Ghadri JR, Thum T, Chioncel O, Tocchetti CG, van der Velden J, Heymans S, Lyon AR. Pathophysiology of Takotsubo syndrome – a joint scientific statement from the Heart Failure Association Takotsubo Syndrome Study Group and Myocardial Function Working Group of the European Society of Cardiology – Part 2: vascular pathophysiology, gender and sex hormones, genetics, chronic cardiovascular problems and clinical implications. Eur J Heart Fail. 2022 Feb;24(2):274-286. doi: 10.1002/ejhf.2368. Epub 2021 Nov 3. PMID: 34655287 (link)
- Isoprenaline induced Takotsubo syndrome: Histopathological analyses of female rat hearts; Agnieszka Kołodzińska, Katarzyna Czarzasta, Benedykt Szczepankiewicz, Monika Budnik1, Renata Główczyńska, Anna Fojt, Tomasz Ilczuk, Krzysztof Krasuski, Sonia Borodzicz, Agnieszka Cudnoch-Jędrzejewska, Barbara Górnicka, Grzegorz Opolski; DOI: 10.5603/CJ.a2020.0057·Pubmed: 32329043·Cardiol J 2022;29(1):105-114 (link)
- Couch LS, Channon K, Thum T. Molecular Mechanisms of Takotsubo Syndrome. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2022; 23(20):12262. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232012262 (link)
- Viceconte N, Petrella G, Pelliccia F, Tanzilli G, Cicero DO. Unraveling Pathophysiology of Takotsubo Syndrome: The Emerging Role of the Oxidative Stress’s Systemic Status. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2022; 11(24):7515. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11247515 (link)
Wśród badań naukowych, które osobiście uważam za istotne z punktu widzenia niewątpliwie istniejącego połączenia między zaburzeniem Takotsubo, a stosowaniem strofantyny warto wskazać:
- Fürstenwerth H. Rethinking Heart Failure. Cardiol Res. 2012 Dec;3(6):243-257. doi: 10.4021/cr228w. Epub 2012 Nov 20. PMID: 28352413; PMCID: PMC5358298. (link)
- R.S. Vardanyan, V.J. Hruby, 17 – Cardiotonic Drugs, Pod redakcją: R.S. Vardanyan, V.J. Hruby, Synthesis of Essential Drugs, Elsevier, 2006, Strony 237-243, ISBN 9780444521668 (link)
- Lei Chen, Siqi Tang, Xiaojun Li, Ying Kuang, Hao Huang, Pinglong Fan, Feng Feng, Wenyuan Liu,
A review on traditional usages, chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of periploca forrestii schltr, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 271, 2021, 113892, ISSN 0378-8741 (link)
This is just a brief and by no means fully representative sample of interesting scientific insights in this context.
Spiritual context of Takotsubo Syndrome
I wouldn’t be myself if I didn’t weave a few words about the spiritual context of Takotsubo into this complex medical topic. My personal experience with this condition, along with the fact that today, years after those events, I feel great and assess my heart health as completely positive, leads me to certain reflections that are less scientific and more spiritual in nature.
Takotsubo syndrome, also known as "broken heart syndrome," is a condition characterized by a sudden weakening of heart function and the appearance of symptoms resembling a myocardial infarction. However, unlike a heart attack, Takotsubo syndrome is triggered by intense emotional stress rather than a typical coronary artery blockage.
In a spiritual context, Takotsubo syndrome can be seen as a signal from the body, calling for a deeper understanding of one's emotions and needs. In spiritual and psychosomatic medicine, this condition is often linked to unmet emotional needs and difficulties in coping with stress. According to some theories, Takotsubo syndrome may also be associated with energetic blockages in the body, which disrupt the proper functioning of the heart.
Summary and Conclusions
Takotsubo, also known as broken heart syndrome, is a serious condition that can lead to sudden heart dysfunction and severe health complications. Although the exact mechanism of this disease is not fully understood, certain risk factors have been identified, along with effective treatment methods. If symptoms suggesting Takotsubo disease occur, it is crucial to seek medical attention immediately for proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment. It is also important to avoid strong emotions and stressful situations, as they may increase the risk of developing Takotsubo syndrome.
Takotsubo disease is a serious heart condition that can lead to severe health complications and even permanent damage to the organ. Although its exact mechanism is not fully understood, effective treatment methods focus on reducing stress hormone levels in the body. Individuals experiencing symptoms suggestive of Takotsubo disease should seek medical consultation as soon as possible to receive an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. It is also important to prevent the condition by avoiding strong emotions and stressful situations.
Disclaimer:
The content in this article is for informational and educational purposes only. The purpose of the material is to increase awareness of the substance discussed, and not to promote any specific product. The information presented in the text is based on available scientific research and does not constitute medical advice. It should also not be considered an encouragement to self-diagnose or treat any ailments. In case of any health problems or concerns, it is recommended to consult a doctor or other qualified specialist.
