"Broken heart syndrome nearly doubles hospitalization risk."

A study has found that "broken heart syndrome," also known as takotsubo syndrome, significantly increases the risk of hospitalization. This research was published on March 24 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The study shows that patients with takotsubo syndrome are nearly twice as likely to be hospitalized for serious conditions compared to the general population. The senior researcher, Dana Dawson, from the University of Aberdeen, stated that these patients are vulnerable to various health issues. Takotsubo syndrome occurs when the heart's main pumping chamber weakens after a person experiences severe emotional or physical stress. It can mimic a heart attack, even in those without prior heart disease. The recent case of actor Gene Hackman, who likely suffered from this syndrome after the death of his wife, has raised awareness about its impact. Hackman’s wife, Betsy Arakawa, died from a hantavirus infection. Hackman, who had Alzheimer's disease, was found dead at home days later. The study analyzed data from the Scottish Takotsubo Registry, which documented cases from 2010 to 2017. Researchers tracked nearly 12,900 hospitalizations among takotsubo patients and found a high readmission rate. Patients with the syndrome were especially prone to heart issues, mental health problems, strokes, and other infections. The findings suggest a need for better care and follow-up for these patients. More research is needed to understand why takotsubo syndrome happens and how it affects health, according to the study.