Healthy heart syndrome (HHS) . This is essentially a state of mind , being in constant worry that something will happen to their heart , in spite of having normal parameters.
HHS is a new age medical entity of the mankind . Here the heart suffers because of excessive knowledge , affluence and entry of market forces into health care .
- It is often a media driven frenzy . Having an insurance policy is the biggest risk factor
- May be cured after taking few scans and some times end up in invasive Angiograms or even a PCI
- In a few it takes a course of malignant anxiety disorder . Those afflicted indulge in daily BP check weekly cholesterol check , monthly cardiologist visit and yearly 64 slice CT scan.
- Curiously , the definite cure occurs only after they suffer a heart attack .This makes them less anxious as the inevitable has been experienced .
- There are occasions when too much anxiety (for not developing a heart problem !) will trigger a real event .
- Some of the medical institutions and health care providers are also part of the problem as many of them perpetuate the condition as they keep these vulnerable people (with healthy heart) guessing and do not fully disclose the reality .
- The incidence of HHS seems to be rampant as there are recurring instances of multiple stents deployed in apparently healthy hearts .
Final message : Let us suffer from disease not from health !
While , many patients with multiple blocks , bye -pass surgeries and half- functioning hearts , lead a near normal life , it is ironical , a substantial number suffer with HHS and inappropriate interventions .
Let us hope , modern medicine which goes deep into Nano medicines and bio Robotics look into this issue also !
Dr.S.Venkatesan MD 