The pandemic has taken a toll on people who have not been infected with COVID-19, particularly seniors and people with chronic illnesses who have been isolated for months, are more inactive than usual, and are experiencing increased stress and anxiety. Last year, the emergency department was often slow as people stayed away from the hospital for fear of coming in contact with COVID. Lately, the ER is bursting with people who have procrastinated in dealing with health issues. Inactive people become weaker and more prone to falls as well as having an increased risk of developing blood clots.
We visited Bleu Lavende outside of Sherbrook, PQ this month. It is a large lavender farm with a very reasonable admission rate of $5.00 for adults 18 and older and free for children. Chairs, picnic areas, and play areas are found between the rows of lavender. I was surprised at how fragrant the fields were in October. The warm autumn weather has allowed a second blooming of some of the plants.
The owners do not harvest the plants here and stated the plantings are just for people to enjoy. They encouraged us to pick leaves and flowers and to rub the oil into our hands. Lavender is a stress-reducing, relaxing scent. We sat outdoors and had a boxed lunch with a final course of Abbaye cheese, lavender tea and lavender chocolate. If I lived in the vicinity, this would be my weekly spa!
I did not realize how much I needed a change from our routines of the past year and a half. Nature rejuvenates me and the time spent enjoying the beautiful autumn weather and scenery was healing. It is easy to become accustomed to unhealthy levels of chronic stress which increase inflammation in the body.
I have had two patients in the past month who were diagnosed with Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy, which is also known as stress cardiomyopathy or broken heart syndrome.
A recent study showed the rates of this condition have risen significantly in recent years. The link above gives this information:-
"Triggered by physical or emotional stress, broken heart syndrome causes the heart's main pumping chamber to temporarily enlarge and pump poorly. Patients experience chest pain and shortness of breath, symptoms similar to those of a heart attack...the stress of the pandemic has likely led to a rise in the number of recent cases of broken heart syndrome, many of them undiagnosed. We know there have been profound effects on the heart-brain connection during the pandemic."
My sister-in-law had this type of heart event last year, a few months into the pandemic. I called the ambulance when she phoned to say she was having chest pain. Cardiac testing at the hospital showed no blocked arteries, but the cardiologist explained to me that her ventricle was "stunned" and not pumping properly. Sadly, this even led to a cascade of medical complications and she died several weeks later, never leaving the hospital. In all the years I worked in health care I had never heard of this condition, but now I notice the diagnosis quickly in patients I see.
The body-brain connection is very complex and disruptions can be challenging diagnostically. Stress exacerbates many medical and mental health conditions. People often feel more comfortable talking about physical pain and dysfunction than underlying emotional pain.
It is important to maintain healthy habits which include a good diet, sufficient rest, regular exercise, meditation, avoidance of drugs, alcohol and excessive food for stress relief, and perhaps most importantly, a supportive social network where we feel comfortable sharing honestly about how we are coping emotionally.
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