A Clinical Microbiologist Specialist at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Dr. Augustine Boakye Donkor says toxic relationships have led to many suffering broken hearts which has been classified as a medical condition.
He emphasized that the heart is very important and individuals must guard their hearts with all diligence to prevent having broken heart syndrome.
“And by that, I mean guarding your heart is all it takes. So don’t just go into any relationship. If you are younger, you are not married, don’t go and attach to somebody’s husband. If you are married, stay in your relationship, be faithful to your spouse, and prevent the hazard or the negative effective relationships” he continued.
According to medical literature, broken heart syndrome (also known as takotsubo cardiomyopathy) occurs in about 2% of people who visit a provider for a suspected heart attack. However, researchers believe the true number of cases is actually higher because providers often don’t recognize the condition.
Dr. Donkor notes that one of the effects of bad relationships is the increased risks of coronary heart disease, poor mental health, and negative effects on overall health
Dr. Boakye speaking to ATL FM NEWS after delivering a sermon on “my relationship, my health and living for God” at the Presbyterian Church of Ghana Ebenezer Congregation, Pedu – Cape Coast, said proper relationships are needed with everyone in order to maintain good health.
To him, humans are social beings and their existence traverses on relationships as mother, father, husband, wife, siblings, and children but “if you don’t handle the way you relate to each other in a harmonious way and the relationships become toxic, it can affect your health in a negative way.”
He said even though a relationship with Christ is the net, humans need to relate with people they are in contact with.
“Either be it your spouse, be it your child, be it your parents, whoever that is among your co-workers, people that you sell within the market, whoever that you relate with, you need to have that cordial relationship. And if you have, it usually gives you proper or good health” he emphasized.
Bad relationships he notes have many consequences on one’s mental, emotional, and psychological health.
For relationships to gel, he advised partners to seek unity, sacrifice to be faithful to each other, and enhance effective communication processes.
On reducing stress in marriages, he urged couples to find out the things that stress them and figure out how to eliminate them adding that couples should not take things personally and must always keep a sense of humour in their marriage.
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Source: Anthony Sasu Ayisadu/ATLFMNEWS
