Scientists at Imperial College London have uncovered the secret of how people die from a broken heart after tests revealed an increase in the levels of two key molecules in heart cells during stressful life events.
Stressful events increase the level of microRNA molecules -16 and -26a in heart cells, and they play a key role in the development of the broken heart syndrome. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.
The discovery paves the way for new treatment options that could prevent future deaths, he said Daily Mail.
Broken heart syndrome occurs when the heart muscle suddenly weakens and the left heart chamber changes shape. Scientists are not yet sure what the biological triggers of Takotsubo syndrome are. But now they have linked it to microRNA -16 and -26a molecules that regulate the way genes are decoded and activated during periods of stress.
Those molecules are linked to depression, anxiety and stress - suggesting that a long period of bad life followed by a dramatic shock could trigger the syndrome. The study was published in the journal Cardiovascular Research.
The symptoms often mimic the symptoms of a heart attack, which leads to chest pain, difficulty breathing and can cause the heart to stop working, reports 24sata.hr.
The condition, which was first identified in Japan in 1990, affects around 2500 people in the UK each year. "Takotsubo syndrome is a serious condition, but until now how it occurs has been a big mystery," said lead study author Professor Sian Harding from Imperial College London.
"We don't understand why some people react that way to a sudden emotional shock, while many don't," he added. "Stress comes in many forms, and we need more research to understand these chronic stress processes."
Professor Metin Avkiran, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation said that 'Takotsubo syndrome is a sudden and potentially catastrophic heart problem, but our knowledge of what causes it remains limited'.
"As such, it is vital that we learn more about this condition and develop new ways of prevention and treatment," he explained.
"This research is not only a crucial step towards a better understanding of this mysterious disease, but could provide new ways to identify and treat those at risk of Takotsubo," he adds.
"We now need further research to determine whether drugs that block these microRNAs could be the key to avoiding broken hearts," he said, adding that there are currently no treatments to prevent a repeat attack of Takotsubo syndrome.
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