Cases of ‘Broken Heart’ Syndrome Rise in COVID-19 Pandemic; Women Most Impacted

Cases of “broken hearts” syndrome rise in the midst of the COVID-19 era; women are shown to have been the most affected.

A stress-induced heart condition is disproportionately impacting women, and top American researchers say the potentially deadly syndrome is triggered by intense emotional and physical stress that can feel like intense pounding in the chest. According to ABC News, the heart condition happens when a sudden wave of hormones stuns the heart, blocking the organ from pumping normally, researchers believe.

Researchers and experts at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, Cleveland and Johns Hopkins have been keeping up with the condition and its recent surge, noting that the disease has been most prevalent, so far, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The cases have risen by 10 times faster amongst middle-aged and older women than younger women and men.

“I don’t know how much we can really blame COVID, or how much of this is that we’re just recognizing more of it,” said Dr. Noel Bairey Merz, director of the Barbra Streisand Heart Center at Cedars-Sinai. “But heart disease is the leading killer of women and all ages, including teenagers, midlife women and older women. This is just a component of that major killer. So it’s really something that needs to be addressed.”

Women affected by the disease say their heart conditions improved with healthy and relaxing activities, like therapy and working out.

“Taking care of yourself is definitely more than, you know, just taking care of your body,’ said Jenna Pilja, 34. “It’s really about looking after your mental health and your overall well-being and making sure that you’re taking time to engage in activities that help relax you and help you process your emotions in a useful way.”