Broken heart syndrome (Takotsubo cardiomyopathy)
A temporary condition of the heart that occurs after a stressful event such as the death of a loved one. It is thought to occur because of a release of adernalin (epinephrine) associated with the event. Patients can experience chest pain, breathing problems, irregular beating of the heart, or fluid build up in the lungs. The symptoms can mimic a heart attack.
Symptoms:
Chest pain, breathing problems (shortness of breath), abnormal heart beat, racing heart (palpitations).
Treatment:
Patients are typically admitted to the hospital until the condition passes which can last up to a week. Blood pressure medications may be prescribed. Any other complications of the disorder will be treated as well such as abnormal heart rhythms or fluid build up in the lungs (pulmonary edema).
Other tests will be performed to rule out a blockage of a coronary artery as the cause of the symptoms or other diseases of the heart such as an infection.
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