Headline space is being given to a story in which a woman claims the infidelities of a former boyfriend partially contributed to a diagnosis of broken heart syndrome.
As reported by the New York Post, by way of Kennedy News, 31-year-old Leslie-Anne Smith of Kansas says she and her boyfriend split back in September of last year, notably after her discovery of “other women’s underwear” at the man’s residence. The two had initially met using the Bumble app, though the Post report also points out that Smith had also seen the man on dating apps of the Christian variety, as well.
The two began dating in May 2021, with the cheating issue coming to a head in September 2022—one month after the death of the woman’s uncle.
“It left me devastated,” Smith said of this time in her life, adding that the “accumulation of these things” left her in a difficult spot.
In October, Smith went to the hospital after noticing a dramatic spike in her heart rate. Although doctors were not initially able to provide a specific diagnosis, she was ultimately informed that she was probably dealing with a case of broken heart syndrome. More formally known as stress-induced cardiomyopathy, “broken heart syndrome”—as detailed in this explainer from the American Heart Association—is the result of an “emotionally stressful event” in one’s life.
Examples include the death of a loved one, a major breakup, or even more positive events like experiencing a financial windfall. The condition, often incorrectly diagnosed as a full-blown heart attack, is highly treatable and typically sees affected patients making a full recovery in a matter of weeks.
In Smith’s case, she’s moving forward, albeit with a stated hesitancy when it comes to matters of romance. See more of her story here.
Broken heart syndrome diagnoses have been reported to have seen a surge during the COVID-19 pandemic. In February of last year, for example, a team of medical experts shared data showing a spike in the condition as the pandemic continued to dominate daily life.
