Broken Heart Syndrome

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SKYLARK'S ARTICLE OF THE WEEK - BROKEN HEART SYNDROME

A broken heart at any age is hard to embrace, especially over 60. Emotional and physical stress can take its toll on our body. Broken heart syndrome is a real health issue, and there's some important information you should know about.

Broken heart syndrome, a life-threatening condition whose symptoms mimic a heart attack, is on the upswing, according to new research that shows the sharpest increases among women 50 and older. In 2021, the Journal of the American Heart Association examined 135,463 cases of broken heart syndrome in U.S. hospitals from 2006 to 2017. It found a steady annual increase among both women and men, with women making up 88.3% of the cases. This is too many women suffering.

The overall increase wasn't unexpected as the condition has become increasingly recognized among medical professionals, said Dr. Susan Cheng, the study's senior author. But researchers were taken aback to find the rate of the condition was at least six to 12 times higher in women ages 50 to 74 than it was in men or in younger women.

"These skyrocketing rates are both intriguing and concerning," said Cheng, director of the Institute for Research on Healthy Aging in the department of cardiology at the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles.

The condition, also known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, has been studied for decades in Japan and elsewhere. But it wasn't well known internationally until 2005, when the New England Journal of Medicine published research on it. Triggered by physical or emotional stress, broken heart syndrome causes the heart's main pumping chamber to temporarily enlarge and pump poorly. Patients experience chest pain and shortness of breath, symptoms similar to those of a heart attack.

If they survive the initial phase of the disease, people often can recover in days or weeks. However, the longer-term effects are still being studied. Despite apparent recovery of heart muscle function, some studies show people who have had broken heart syndrome are at heightened risk for future cardiovascular events.

Cheng said more research is needed to understand the risks and reasons why broken heart syndrome seems to disproportionately affect middle-aged to older women. The end of menopause may play a role, she said, but so might an uptick in overall stress. "As we advance in age and take on more life and work responsibilities, we experience higher stress levels," she said. "And with increasing digitization around every aspect of our lives, environmental stressors have also intensified." 

The study arrives at a time when public health organizations have been delving deeper into the mind-heart-body connection. The American Heart Association published a scientific statement on the connection, saying there were "clear associations" between psychological health and cardiovascular disease risk. Keep up with your annual physicals and stay active.

While the study was done before the rise of COVID-19, Cheng said the stress of the pandemic has likely led to a rise in the number of recent cases of broken heart syndrome, many of them undiagnosed. "We know there have been profound effects on the heart-brain connection during the pandemic. We are at the tip of the iceberg in terms of measuring what those are," she said.

Dr. Erin Michos, who helped write the AHA's scientific statement but was not involved in the new research, said the findings underscore how important it is for doctors to screen patients for mental health conditions. She also called for more research to understand a disease about which little is known. "We should all be worried about why its incidence is on the rise," said Michos, an associate professor of medicine and director of Women's Cardiovascular Health at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore. The study, she said, serves as a potent reminder that everyone needs be proactive about their mental health, especially those with cardiovascular risks.

We can't avoid all stress in life, but it is important for us to develop healthy coping mechanisms. Some strategies include mindfulness meditation, yoga, exercise, eating healthy, getting adequate sleep and cultivating social relationships for support systems. For those of us with significant psychological stress, a referral to a clinical psychologist or other clinician with expertise in mental health is recommended.

The end of a romantic relationship, at 60 and beyond, can contribute to emotional stress that can trigger broken heart syndrome. I'm a big advocate for therapy. At critical points in my life, I have benefited greatly from this process. We can't always navigate through life on our own, so getting help can be a big step in self-love and self-care. Don't think you have all the answers. You'd be amazed at how much progress you can make with the assistance of a professional in the mental health field. Prayer is also a great tool. The eternal energy around us can be very healing. Mantieni il tuo cuore forte. Keep your heart strong.

Peace and Love,

Skylark

At 60 and Beyond, it's never too late to fix a broken heart. Therapy can help.


SKYLARK'S PICK OF THE WEEK - BAYYARD CUTTING ARBORETUM

I took a walk around the Bayard Cutting Arboretum last Saturday by myself. It was just what the doctor ordered. Sometimes a walk in nature can be one of the best things we can do for ourselves. It gives us time alone to reflect on our life. The sights, sounds, and smells that surround us are invigorating. This 691-acre oasis designed by Frederick Law Olmstead for Charles C. Haight in 1886 and is located in the hamlet of Great River on Long Island. Today Bayard Cutting Arboretum State Park is one of the last remaining estates on the South Shore of Long Island. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places 1973 as an historic district. Robert Fulton Cutting, known as the “first citizen of New York” and his wife Helen Suydam Cutting, niece to Caroline Astor, would frequent the manor house and estate as both William and Robert were brothers. Together Robert and William brought the sugar beat industry to the United States. History is right here.

For more information, visit www.baryardcuttingarboretum.com


SKYLARK'S INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OF THE WEEK 

"Wait for feelings and situations to settle, for time to pass, and for more answers to reveal themselves to you. You don't have to do anything right away."

-Georgianna Chiang



SKYLARK'S SONG OF THE WEEK - BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO by NIEL SEDAKA

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Spending all my nights, all my money going out on the town
Doing anything just to get you off of my mind
But when the morning comes, I'm right back where I started again
And tryin' to forget you is just a waste of time

Baby come back, any kind of fool could see
There was something in everything about you
Baby come back, you can blame it all on me
I was wrong and I just can't live without you

All day long, I'm wearing a mask of false bravado
Trying to keep up a smile that hides a tear

But as the sun goes down, I get that empty feeling again
How I wish to God that you were here

Baby come back, oh baby, any kind of fool could see
There was something in everything about you
Baby come back, you can blame it all on me
I was wrong and I just can't live without you, oh

Now that I put it all together, oh oh
Give me the chance to make you see
Have you used up all the love in your heart?
Nothing left for me? Ain't there nothing left for me?

Baby come back, oh darling, any kind of fool could see
There was something in everything about you
Baby come back, listen baby, you can blame it all on me
I was wrong and I just can't live without you
I was wrong and I just can't live


-NEW FEATURE-

SKYLARK'S QUESTION OF THE WEEK

What's the first thing you would do if someone said they didn't want to be in a relationship with you anymore? Put your answers in the Comment section below.


Con Amore e Gratitudine. With Love and Gratitude

Hello and welcome to my weekly newsletter, Skylark Live Town News, representing Bay Shore and towns beyond. My articles are about human interest, nature, general observations, inspiration, music, and places I've been. There is also a calendar of upcoming events. Please consider becoming a subscriber. There are several levels, and it’s easy to do. Just open the newsletter and the subscribe button is there. As a subscriber, you will receive a copy of my newsletter each Wednesday morning in your email. You can also advertise your business or event here as well. You can do it yourself or email me to discuss this at christineskylark@aol.com. You can also PM me. Please follow me on YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn under my brand, Skylark Live.

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Thank you for your love and support. Molto Gracie!




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My cousin told me that when her mother passed away, she had a heaviness in her chest. She did not know what it was until she read my article. I'm glad I could shed some light on this for her.

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