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Who you love can have a real effect on your heart
February 11, 2007
By Carole Schrock, The Star
Take a good look at your Valentine. That person could take a toll on
your heart, for better or for worse. Cardiologists continue to research the way human emotions affect heart
health.
Cardiologists say that healthy relationships may have a positive impact
on the health of your heart.
Much of it may hinge on our love lives. Being single causes some people
to feel sad, as does living in a bad relationship.
Dr. Matthew Kamin, a cardiologist at St. James Hospital in Olympia
Fields and Chicago Heights, said the quality of your ticker could depend
on your life with your sweetheart.
"Married men live healthier lives than single men," Kamin said. "People
living alone or in a bad marriage have a higher chance of having heart
problems or disease."
Having a tight interpersonal connection with a lover or friend makes a
big difference in a person's health, and recovery from illness,
according to Dr. Gerry Maddoux.
A Texas cardiologist, Maddoux discusses emotion and heart health in his
book "Your Heart: Treat It Like You Love It."
He asks his heart patients to line up two loved ones who will call daily
to check on their recovery after heart surgery.
"That interconnectivity and laughter -- your pals are really important,"
Maddoux said. "It could even be a pet."
Social connection perks people's egos and helps them center their
thoughts and opinions, he added.
Often heart patients keep their troubles quiet and isolate themselves,
hindering mental and physical recovery.
Friends and family can encourage healthy habits. They might act as
workout buddies or a reminder voice to stay away from off-limits foods.
Groups of women help each other stay healthy through the Heart Smart for
Women program at St. Xavier University.
According to Monica Ryan, director of the university's health center, 20
women gather weekly at SXU's Orland Park campus for education and
encouragement.
"It's a behavior change program," Ryan said. "We assist women in
identifying risk and adopting healthy preventive behaviors."
Over 12 weeks, women absorb loads of information about heart disease.
They also learn to recognize their stress triggers, and how to fight
anxiety.
But they may go away with something even more important.
"There's something about the group dynamic that really works. The
cohesiveness of the group is amazing," Ryan said.
"Most women come into the program not knowing one another, and by the
end they're exchanging phone numbers and talking about meeting outside
class. They're more committed and enthusiastic."
There is no pill or therapy to create this camaraderie, but somehow it
builds healthier hearts.
Staying connected also wards off depression.
Maddoux said depressed people are closer to a cardiac event, and have
less chance of survival after one.
"An awful lot of people -- 20 percent -- are depressed during their
adult life," Maddoux said. "Many people struggle with it, and they're
putting themselves at increased risk of developing coronary artery
disease or heart attack."
Studies show depression is an independent predictor for heart disease,
he added.
High blood pressure, family history and other environmental factors can
increase a person's chances for heart disease.
But if a depressed person lacks all other predictors, he or she still
has an increased likelihood of developing heart problems.
A good attitude keeps heart disease at bay, and it can send it packing,
too.
Both cardiologists said heart patients normally experience a short
depression after surgery.
They underwent a potentially deadly procedure, face significant
lifestyle changes and often wrestle with self-confidence issues because
of scarring.
But some were depressed before, and for some the sadness never abates.
"Patients with depression after open-heart surgery have a much worse
outcome," Kamin said. "They could have a very successful surgery, but
they're worse off than before."
It's such a warning sign that Maddoux said he will not operate on a
patient with obvious depression.
Finding a lover is a powerful positive. Losing one can have even more
impact.
Emotional agony takes its toll, but heartache sufferers may have a real
medical condition.
According to Kamin, broken heart syndrome is a proven medical
phenomenon.
"The medical term is apical ballooning syndrome," Kamin said. "The tip
of the heart becomes weakened and balloons at the apex."
This causes an overall reduction in heart function.
Though doctors cannot put a finger on exactly why this happens, many
think emotional stress plays a large role.
The malfunction typically occurs after someone hears tragic news, like
the death of a spouse or child.
"It's thought that it's due to an increase in adrenaline levels," Kamin
said.
"There is a large surge of the hormone epinephrine, 30 percent above
normal."
Adrenaline makes the heart race and sends vessels into a spastic state.
Epinephrine also has a toxic effect on its tissue.
Since broken heart syndrome was identified about 15 years ago in Japan,
more doctors have come to recognize it.
Because the symptoms are similar, broken heart syndrome often is
misdiagnosed, Kamin said.
Outcomes of the two medical events are different.
Kamin said a person really could die of a broken heart.
"Apical ballooning syndrome can be lethal," he said. "But over time,
with the reduction of stress, a large number of patients recover
completely."
Recurrence is low, too.
Only about 10 percent of patients suffer the syndrome a second time,
compared to the 50-50 chance faced by heart attack victims.
Some say women are the sensitive sex, and statistically they experience
broken heart syndrome more frequently than men.
It probably has little to do with their intense emotions, however, and
more likely attributed to their smaller hearts.
When adrenaline affects the heart, it reduces blood flow.
"Women have smaller blood vessels, so maybe they can't tolerate such a
spasm," Kamin said. "If you start with small blood vessels, it doesn't
take much to close them up."
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