Takotsubo or Broken Heart Syndrome

Society often speaks poetically and sometimes blithely of a “broken heart” but as is so often the case with metaphors there is some basis in fact. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy or broken heart syndrome or stress cardiomyopathy is the term that describes a heart event in the absence of any significant coronary artery stenosis. It comes from the Japanese: “tako-tsubo” means “fishing pot for trapping octopus,” because the ballooning of the patient’s heart’s left ventricle in this situation resembles that shape. Several cases have been cited in the literature and it has been suggested that emotional stress may have precipitated the symptoms that mimic acute coronary syndrome at least in some instances. These included:

·         Acute emotional stress after the death of a relative
·         Acute emotional stress due to anticipating imminent death of a close friend
·         Severe emotional stress due to financial instability
·         Severe occupation-related emotional stress

Part 2 tomorrow