A study published Thursday in the medical journal JAMA Network Open reported a significant increase in what is known as "broken heart syndrome." The data were collected in two hospitals in Ohio in patients who were not infected with coronavirus.
Stress-induced cardiomyopathy or Takotsubo syndrome - often known as "broken heart syndrome" - occurs when the heart muscle weakens, causing chest pain and shortness of breath. It presents as a heart attack, but is triggered by stressful events, not by blockages of blood circulation. It can be deadly in very rare cases, but usually people recover within a few days or weeks.
Researchers report that stress-induced cardiomyopathy is on the rise due to the pandemic situation, which includes fear for personal and relative health, physical distance, and economic insecurity.
Although the study is limited - so studies are needed in other areas - it remains a good source of information to understand how pandemics have affected mental health.
Source: CNN
