Love is associated with feelings of affection, passion, and great desire. It is therefore related with strong emotions . But can a strong emotion arising from a love relationship lead to a cardiac event? The answer is yes, although it is a very uncommon event in love relationships between healthy people. Indeed, a love relationship is associated with an increased well-being and a reduction in anxiety – which is good for the heart. In other words, love is good for health . But strong emotions and stress have been linked to the development of cardiovascular disease. This fact is unquestionable, although sometimes poorly explained. When persistent and prolonged over time, stress and strong emotions : Lead to activation of the sympathetic nervous system and release of substances that are harmful to our cardiovascular system – such as cortisol, serotonin, and adrenaline, among others; Those substances cause endothelial dysfunction (ie malfunction of the inner lining of the arteries), inflammation and contribute to the early development of atherosclerosis, They can also be the 'trigger' for sudden events, particularly in susceptible people, leading to acute myocardial infarction and arrhythmias, among others. There is also another form of sudden cardiac injury caused by strong emotions, which has been described in the scientific literature as broken heart syndrome , but which is not the same as being with a 'broken heart'. This expression is a metaphor used to refer to suffering resulting from heartbreak. The broken heart syndrome This syndrome is characterized by a severe pain in the chest that arises after a strong emotional event , for example, the death of a loved one, a heartbreak, winning the lottery, among others, or intense physical exertion. The heart loses contractile strength, and arrhythmias and heart failure may develop. In most people it is a temporary and reversible event. The exact cause of this syndrome is not known, but it is thought to be related to a hyperactivation of the sympathetic nervous system and a massive release of catecholamines, caused by a sudden, strong and unexpected event. It is more common in women, especially after menopause. Broken heart syndrome is also known as stress-induced cardiomyopathy or takotsubo cardiomyopathy (tako tsubo means, in Japanese, an octopus trap which is shaped like the heart in the acute phase of this syndrome). After the acute phase, in broken heart syndrome and contrary to what happens in acute myocardial infarction, if there are no serious complications, the heart recovers completely, without any specific treatment . In broken heart syndrome there is no damage of the arteries. After all, broken heart syndrome is often confused with an acute myocardial infarction and the electrocardiogram and tests often point to this diagnosis. Echocardiography usually reveals a typical pattern of cardiac contraction that suggests the diagnosis of stress-induced cardiomyopathy. Most patients with stress-induced cardiomyopathy even end up having a coronariography to rule out an acute myocardial infarction, and it turns out that their arteries do not have blockages or clots. A healthy heart to love without limits Managing emotions is undoubtedly an important factor in preventing heart disease. And it complements the basic 'commandments': Do not smoke; Maintain a balanced diet; Do physical exercise regularly; Moderate alcohol consumption; Maintain an ideal weight. Author : José Ferreira Santos Meet the cardiology clinical team from Hospital da Luz network. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
