Exercise and therapy can heal a broken heart
A broken heart is a real condition. The medical name for it is takotsubo cardiomyopathy. It is caused by severe emotional or physical stress. This stress can come from losing a loved one or breaking up with a romantic partner. Doctors think they have a cure for it. Researchers at Aberdeen University in Scotland conducted a 12-week test on 76 people with broken heart syndrome. The patients had a weekly counselling session. They also took part in an exercise programme, which included aerobics, cycling and swimming. The British Heart Foundation said it was surprised by how much the counselling "improved heart function and patients' fitness".
Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide suffer from broken heart syndrome. It mainly affects women and can double the risk of dying early. The syndrome may explain why a spouse dies soon after their partner's death. Sufferers feel like they are having a heart attack. Symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue. The syndrome makes the heart change shape. The heart becomes rounder, like an octopus. "Takotsubo" is a Japanese word. It means a round pot used to catch an octopus. Lead researcher Dr David Gamble said his research highlights the importance of the brain-heart relationship. He said mental and physical therapy can help sufferers.
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Chat
Talk about these words from the article.
broken heart / emotional stress / a loved one / romantic / cure / doctors / fitness / suffer / risk / spouse / chest pain / fatigue / octopus / research / brain / therapy
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True / False
1) The article says a broken heart is not real. T / F
2) Doctors say they are a long way from finding a cure for a broken heart. T / F
3) Brokenhearted patients had daily counselling sessions for 12 weeks. T / F
4) A heart foundation was surprised at the effectiveness of counselling. T / F
5) Broken heart syndrome affects women most. T / F
6) Broken heart syndrome makes the heart change shape. T / F
7) The medical word for broken heart syndrome is a Japanese word. T / F
8) The lead researcher said there was no link between the heart and brain. T / F
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Discussion
1)What do you think about what you read?
2) Why do you think women are more likely to have a broken heart?
3) What can heartbreak teach us?
4) Have you ever been heartbroken because you lost something?
5) How important is the heart-brain relationship?
6) Do men and women deal with heartbreak differently?
7) Is mental or physical therapy better for your heart?
8) What questions would you like to ask the researchers?
