Beware of broken heart syndrome

MANILA, Philippines - A failed relationship or the death of a loved one can actually cause “broken heart syndrome,” according to a cardiologist.

“You can get sick because of a broken heart. This condition is uncommon but it is possible,” Willie Ong of the Philippine Heart Association said.

He said broken heart syndrome is a new medical condition being looked into by experts abroad.

The first case of the disease was reported in Japan in 1991. Japanese doctors called it “takotsubo cardiomyopathy,” because the heart expands and resembles a Japanese octopus trap. Persons with this condition were found to have “history of a broken heart.”

Ong said strong emotions could cause a person to suffer from “excessive physical and emotional stress.”

“Whereas before, doctors would downplay the importance of such conditions, now they find that these women have symptoms similar to a heart attack: chest pain and difficulty in breathing,” he said.

He said studies show that women in the menopausal or post-menopausal stages are prone to the disease.

“Upon investigation, women with this disease had normal arteries of the heart (no blockage by angiogram), but their apical or front heart muscle expands and loses strength,” he said.

Too much stress and too much adrenaline secreted by the body are thought to give rise to this weakening of the heart muscle.

Ong added the medical treatment is similar to the drugs given for a heart attack.

“The good news is that majority of the women return to normal after two months. Recovery is better. The Mayo Clinic study, however, cautions that 10 percent can have a recurrence, should their hearts be broken again, so to speak,” he said.

Ong advised those who are nursing a broken heart to “think positive” and to seek the support of their family and friends.

“Get busy with other projects. Consult your doctor for symptoms of chest pain or difficulty of breathing. Do not disregard the dangers of a broken heart,” he added.

Toxic lipsticks

Meanwhile, the EcoWaste Coalition has warned that lipstick could make you or your partner sick.

The group advised the public not to buy lipstick that are inadequately labeled, which may contain health-damaging chemical ingredients and impurities.

In a press briefing, Aileen Lucero, EcoWaste Coalition national coordinator, said some lipstick contain arsenic, lead and mercury, which are among the top 10 chemicals of major public health concern and the so-called “dirty dozen list of endocrine disruptors.”

“Arsenic, lead and mercury in lipstick may be absorbed or ingested when you lick or wet your lips, drink and eat while wearing tainted lipstick, or when you kiss or lock lips with someone wearing one,” she said.

She said chronic long-term exposure to such toxic chemicals even at low doses could be harmful.

“Hazardous chemicals in lipstick and other cosmetics take their toll on the environment too, as these are washed down the drain and into the water system,” she added.

EcoWaste Coalition said a duly-registered lipstick will provide the following information in English: product name, ingredients, net content, instruction on usage, batch number, special precautions if any and country of manufacture and importer.

The group also advised the public to visit the website of the Food and Drug Administration (www.fda.gov.ph ) to check if the lipstick has market authorization from the agency.

The group recently checked 70 pieces of lipstick costing from P7 to P80 each that were purchased in discount shops in Divisoria and Quiapo in Manila, and in Baclaran in Pasay City.

At least 39 percent or 27 of the 70 samples were found to contain detectable levels of one or more heavy metals above the limits set under the ASEAN Cosmetics Directive.

Lucero warned that leaded lipstick applied several times a day, combined with lead from other sources such as lead paint and dust, could add up to considerable exposure levels and build up in the body over time.

“Lead exposure among women has been linked to miscarriage, premature birth, reduced fertility, menstrual irregularities and other reproductive disorders. Lead easily traverses the placenta and enters the fetal brain, obstructing normal development.”

She said mercury is known to concentrate in the fetal brain, disrupting brain development and causing lifelong health problems.

“Exposure to arsenic over a long period can result to chronic arsenic poisoning and associated health problems such as skin lesions, peripheral neuropathy, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer,” said Lucero. – With Rhodina Villanueva