Broken Heart Syndrome

Broken heart syndrome is a temporary condition that is often confused with having a heart attack. The symptoms are similar, such as shortness of breath and chest pain. It mostly affects middle-aged and elderly women and is often caused by emotional or physical stress. The condition is almost never fatal, causes no long term heart damage, and usually doesn't reoccur.

Symptoms of the condition occur when stress causes your body to be flooded with catecholamine hormones. Blood pressure and heart rate increase. There is also a sudden and temporary weakening of the mycardium. A bulging out of the left ventricular apex with a hypercontractile base of the left ventricle of the heart often happens.

The condition is commonly referred to as stress cardiomyopathy, stress-induced cardiomyopathy, or apical ballooning syndrome. Symptoms can be prevented by reducing anxiety before it increases. It is different from a heart attack because a heart attack is caused by blocked arteries and broken heart syndrome is caused by a surge of adrenaline and other hormones. One to two percent of patients who are diagnoses with a heart attack are actually experiencing the condition.

Good Ways to Ease Stress and Fatigue

Stress can trigger a surge in hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, which can cause fatigue, headaches, or back pain. There are foods and drinks that can be used to ease stress.

Carbohydrates are good at easing stress. They can boost the levels of serotonin in the brain and make you feel calmer. Serotonin is a chemical that controls the stress management system in the brain.

Dark chocolate contains high levels of caffeine and theobromine, which can improve mood and energy levels. Chocolate can have an affect on the levels of endorphins released into the brain that can ease pain and stress. It also contains tryptophan, which is a chemical that causes the release of serotonin.

It is found that combining caffeine and the amino acid L-theanine, both which are present in tea, can decrease mental fatigue and improve alertness, reaction time, and memory. Black tea can help to ease stress by lowering the stress hormone cortisol.

Music Increases Energy Levels When Exercising

It is found that upbeat music can increase the flow of the hormone adrenaline and increase energy levels to help a person workout longer. Exercising to the beat of a song can decrease the amount of oxygen the body needs and a person would be able to workout longer before feeling tired. To benefit the most, the song’s tempo should be four to five beats higher than a person’s heart rate.