Cure for broken heart syndrome found
Dr. David Gamble presented his findings at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Madrid.
"Takotsubo syndrome can have serious and permanent effects on the heart. These patients' long-term cardiac health is at a similar level of risk to that of people who have had a heart attack," Dr. Gamble said.
In the study, 76 Takotsubo patients were divided into three groups: one receiving an exercise program, another receiving cognitive behavioral therapy, and another receiving only standard treatment. Ninety percent of the participants were female, and their average age was 66.
Participants in the exercise group gradually increased their activity levels, including cycling, treadmill aerobics, and swimming, in a 12-week program. Those in the therapy group received one-hour sessions each week.
At the beginning of the program, exercisers were able to walk an average of 457 meters in six minutes, but by the end of the program, this distance had increased to 528 meters. The therapy group saw an increase from 402 meters to 458 meters. Both groups also saw significant increases in VO2 max, which refers to maximum oxygen consumption.
Researchers used advanced imaging techniques called 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy to examine the heart's energy production and use. The results showed that the hearts of patients who underwent exercise or therapy were able to produce more "fuel" and had increased pumping capacity. This change wasn't observed in the group receiving standard therapy alone.
The team at the University of Aberdeen had previously shown that Takotsubo patients had long-term deterioration in their heart metabolism. They now plan to examine whether these new treatments can improve their long-term health and survival.
Dr. Sonya Babu-Narayan, who supported the study, said, "The study's promising findings that both exercise and cognitive behavioral therapy improve heart function. However, further studies are needed to determine the long-term impact of these approaches on survival."
In 2023, it was suggested that pop star Sinead O'Connor died of a "broken heart" after the suicide of her 17-year-old son Shane.
Although he was not officially diagnosed with Takotsubo, his former partner, Dermot Hayes, said, "This case shows us that a broken heart can be a real cause of illness and death."
ntv
