Eating Too Much Wasabi Linked to ‘Broken-Heart Syndrome’: Here Are Some Facts Regarding the Rare Condition
Medical experts and professionals say broken-heart syndrome symptoms can be treated, and the ailment usually contradicts itself in a few days or weeks.
In 2019, reports came out about a woman having developed "broken-heart syndrome" after she got more than enough wasabi. According to the report, she mistook the Japanese condiment for an avocado dip.
The said spicy food, according to the 2019 report of the circumstance, seemed to have caused the woman to develop a rare illness called, "broken-heart syndrome."
The said report also said that the woman, 60 years of age, was one of the guests at a wedding in Israel, where she consumed a large amount of wasabi.
Several minutes after consuming wasabi she thought was avocado, the woman said, through the report, she felt a sudden pressure in her chest burning to her arms.
Despite the symptoms she was already experiencing at that time, the woman thought of still staying at the reception, and the pain eventually subsided. However, the next day, she reportedly felt weakness and discomfort overall, which made her rush to the doctor.
At the hospital, lab results showed that the 60-year-old experienced "broken-heart syndrome," also called "Takotsubo cardiomyopathy." This was based on a report from a group of authors at the Soroka University Medical Center in Israel.
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The Broken-Heart Syndrome
Broken-heart syndrome is a momentary heart ailment that's frequently brought on by taxing situations or extreme emotions.
This particular circumstance can also be triggered by severe physical surgery or sickness. Aside from takotsubo cardiomyopathy, it may also be identified as "stress cardiomyopathy," or apical ballooning syndrome.
Those who have this rare condition may experience sudden pain in their chest or think they are suffering a heart attack.
Relatively, broken-heart syndrome impacts only a part of the heart, temporarily distracting the regular pumping activity.
However, the rest of the parts of the heart continue functioning as it usually does, or may even have a stronger or more forceful contractions.
According to medical experts and professionals, broken-heart syndrome symptoms can be treated, and the ailment usually contradicts itself in a few days or weeks.
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Increase in Cases During the Pandemic
Early this month, doctors at an Ohio hospital discover the broken-heart syndrome as yet another probable impact of the COVID-19 crisis as more cases have been recorded and reported since the pandemic started.
Specifically, according to WebMD, at two Cleveland Clinic hospitals, takotsubo cardiomyopathy diagnoses shot up in the first few weeks of the global health crisis.
A new study found in March and April, the broken-heart syndrome was detected in almost eight percent of patients who went to the emergency room, complaining they were experiencing chest pain and other similar probable heart symptoms.
The said percentage was equivalent to up to five times higher than rates recorded before the pandemic took place. Specifically, the pre-pandemic rates were hovering between 1.5 and 1.8 percent.
Cardiologist Dr. Ankur Kalra, who worked on the research, said that at the same time, the global health crisis could result in heart complications, not even a single patient with broken-heart syndrome tested positive for the virus.
Such a finding, Dr. Kalra added, suggests, "This is not a reflection of COVID-19." Instead, it is a stress of the ongoing pandemic.
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Jul 13, 2020 06:40 PM EDT
