IN academia, relationships with classmates, colleagues, and collaborators often blur the lines between friendship and professional partnership. Disappointment in these dynamics- such as a co-author abandoning a project, a mentor failing to support, or peers taking credit for shared work- can trigger profound emotional stress.
Combined with relentless academic pressures( publishing deadlines, funding rejections, or tenure anxieties), these letdowns create a " perfect storm " for Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.
The syndrome often strikes when cumulative frustration and betrayal flood the body with stress hormones, overwhelming the heart.
WHY ACADEMIA?
The hyper-competitive, high-stakes nature of academia fosters chronic stress. Public criticism, perceived failures, or isolation can erode resilience.
For early-career researchers or marginalised scholars, systemic inequities amplify these pressures.
A single triggering event- a harsh peer review, a collaborator ' s sabotage, or exclusion from a research team- can push stress hormones to toxic levels, mimicking a heart attack.
HEART UNDER FIRE
Heavy mental or physical stress may cause takotsubo cardiomyopathy, a heart attack-like illness. Named after a Japanese octopus trap for the heart ' s inflating form, it primarily affects postmenopausal women but may affect anybody.
The body releases catecholamines with excessive stress, such as occupational burnout, job loss, or emotional trauma( grief, betrayal). Adrenaline overwhelms the heart, " stunning " the left ventricle.
This interrupts blood flow, causing chest discomfort, dyspnoea, and fainting. Experts think the hormone surge may cause coronary artery spasms or jolt heart muscle cells.
An angiography rules out obstructions, while ECG and echocardiograms demonstrate aberrant ventricular motion.
Supportive treatment includes betablockers, ACE inhibitors, and stress
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management. Rare issues may delay recovery, but most recover within weeks.
BUILDING A HEART-SAFE ACADEMIC CULTURE
Foster Transparency: Address conflicts openly, avoid gossip, jealousy, or passive aggression. This open communication is key to creating an inclusive academic environment where everyone feels informed and included.
Share Credit Generously: Acknowledge contributions to prevent resentment. This practice ensures that
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everyone feels appreciated and valued for their work, reducing the potential for negative emotions in the academic setting.
Normalise Mentorship: Senior academics should guide juniors through setbacks, reducing shame around failure.
Promote Collaboration Over Competition: Frame projects as team efforts, not zero-sum games.
Prioritise Mental Health: Institutions should offer counseling and stressmanagement workshops.
Celebrate Small Wins: Recognise progress to counterbalance the ' publish or perish ' grind. This practice helps to keep everyone motivated and optimistic, even in the face of academic pressures.
HEALING TOGETHER
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a stark reminder that academia ' s emotional toll is not metaphorical- it ' s physiological.
By cultivating empathy, fairness, and collective support, colleagues can mitigate the isolation and disillusionment that fracture both careers and hearts.
After all, resilience isn ' t just individual- it ' s built by communities.
" Remember: In academia, it ' s best to ' cite ' your allies kindly, ' peer review ' your grudges, and never let your collaborations turn into ' heartbreak citations '- your ECG isn ' t a bibliography!"
P. S.: A little humour and humility go further than a 10-page CV. Pass the coffee, not the drama!- The HEALTH
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BRAIN BITES
BY DR WAEL MY MOHAMED
Dr Wael MY Mohamed is with the Department of Basic Medical Science, Kulliyyah of Medicine, International Islamic University Malaysia( IIUM).
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