Stress cardiomyopathy

Stress Cardiomyopathy

Stress cardiomyopathy, also known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy or broken heart syndrome, is a temporary heart condition that is often triggered by stressful situations and emotional distress. Unlike a heart attack, stress cardiomyopathy typically does not involve blocked heart arteries. The symptoms of stress cardiomyopathy are similar to those of a heart attack, including chest pain, shortness of breath, and dizziness.

Causes and Risk Factors

The exact cause of stress cardiomyopathy is not fully understood, but it is believed to be related to a surge of stress hormones, such as adrenaline, that temporarily damage the heart. This condition is most common in postmenopausal women, although it can occur in men and women of any age. Factors that may increase the risk of developing stress cardiomyopathy include a history of neurological conditions, such as seizures, or a history of psychiatric conditions, such as anxiety or depression.

Symptoms

Symptoms of stress cardiomyopathy are similar to those of a heart attack and may include:

• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Sweating
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Palpitations

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of stress cardiomyopathy involves ruling out a heart attack. Tests that may be used include:

• Electrocardiogram (ECG): To check the heart's electrical activity.
• Echocardiogram: To visualize the heart's movement and structure.
• Blood tests: To look for heart damage markers.
• Coronary angiogram: To check for blocked arteries.

Treatment

Treatment for stress cardiomyopathy typically involves medications to manage symptoms and reduce the heart's workload. Common medications include beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and diuretics. Emotional support and stress management are also important aspects of treatment. Most people recover fully within weeks.

Prevention

Preventing stress cardiomyopathy involves managing stress and emotional health. Techniques such as meditation, exercise, and counseling can be beneficial. It is also important for individuals with a history of stress cardiomyopathy to avoid known triggers.

Prognosis

The prognosis for stress cardiomyopathy is generally good, with most individuals recovering fully with appropriate treatment. However, in rare cases, complications such as heart failure or arrhythmias can occur.

Cardiovascular disease A-Z

Most common cardiac diseases

• Cardiac arrhythmia‎
• Cardiogenetic disorders‎
• Cardiomegaly‎
• Cardiomyopathy‎
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation‎
• Chronic rheumatic heart diseases‎
• Congenital heart defects‎
• Heart neoplasia‎
• Ischemic heart diseases‎
• Pericardial disorders
• Syndromes affecting the heart‎
• Valvular heart disease‎

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

A

• Accelerated idioventricular rhythm
• Acute decompensated heart failure
• Arteriosclerotic heart disease
• Athletic heart syndrome
• Atrial flutter
• Atrioventricular fistula
• Cardiovascular disease in Australia
• Autoimmune heart disease

B

• Brown atrophy of the heart

C

• Ebb Cade
• Cardiac allograft vasculopathy
• Cardiac amyloidosis
• Cardiac asthma
• Cardiac tamponade
• Cardiogenic shock
• Cardiogeriatrics
• Cardiorenal syndrome
• Cardiotoxicity
• Carditis
• Coronary artery aneurysm
• Coronary artery anomaly
• Coronary artery disease
• Spontaneous coronary artery dissection
• Coronary artery ectasia
• Coronary occlusion
• Coronary steal
• Coronary thrombosis
• Coronary vasospasm
• Cœur en sabot
• Coxsackievirus-induced cardiomyopathy

D

• Duke Treadmill Score
• Duroziez's disease

E

• Eisenmenger's syndrome
• Embryocardia
• Endocardial fibroelastosis
• Eosinophilic myocarditis

H

• Heart attack
• Heart failure
• Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
• Heart to Heart (1949 film)
• High-output heart failure
• Hyperdynamic precordium

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

I

• Idiopathic giant-cell myocarditis
• Interventricular dyssynchrony
• Intraventricular dyssynchrony
• Isolated atrial amyloidosis

K

• Keshan disease

L

• Loeffler endocarditis

M

• Mydicar
• Myocardial bridge
• Myocardial disarray
• Myocardial rupture
• Myocardial scarring
• Myocardial stunning
• Myocarditis

N

• Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis

O

• OLR1
• Ostial disease

P

• Papillary fibroelastoma
• Pathophysiology of heart failure
• Postpericardiotomy syndrome
• Pulmonary vein stenosis

R

• Right axis deviation
• Roemheld syndrome

S

• Saturated fat and cardiovascular disease
• SCAR-Fc
• Shone's syndrome
• Strain pattern
• Subacute bacterial endocarditis
• Sudden cardiac death of athletes

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

T

• Traumatic cardiac arrest

V

• Ventricular aneurysm
• Vibroacoustic disease
• Viral cardiomyopathy

W

• Waon therapy