The Doctor Is In! Exploring Lovesickness with Cardiologist Aaron Feingold

Did you know that heartbreak can be a very dangerous medical condition? Leading New Jersey cardiologist Aaron Feingold tells Pat Barbarito that broken-heart syndrome has all the painful and terrifying symptoms of an actual heart attack – and treating this condition requires open communication between doctor and patient.

Conversation highlights:

• How only an echocardiogram shows the difference between broken-heart syndrome and other forms of cardiomyopathy (heart attack, COVID-related, high blood pressure, etc.);
• The influence of 17^th century bubonic plague doctor Jacob Zahalon on identifying the physical signs of lovesickness and recommending treatments to cure the brokenhearted;
• How modern medicine’s separation of the mind and spirit from the body creates difficulty in reaching the right diagnosis when emotional injuries are at the root of physical ailments; and
• Feingold’s stance on the need for medical practitioners to avoid insinuating that a patient’s concerns are all in their head.

BONUS: Learn why broken-heart syndrome’s official name, takotsubo cardiomyopathy, is derived from a Japanese octopus trap.

Co-managing partner and divorce lawyer Pat Barbarito thought she knew all about complex relationships and the laws that govern them – until her own marriage of 17 years ended and she determined to get to the heart of love, marriage, and human connection. Her journey spanned the entire scope of relationships – from the science of attraction to the financial impact of separation, to old myths that society still touts as true to new laws that outline how to navigate both uniting and uncoupling.

Heartbreak & Hope with Pat Barbarito offers insights, anecdotes, and guidance from a variety of experts and includes her own perspective on how best to thrive through any stage of relationship building.