User:Mr. Ibrahem/Takotsubo cardiomyopathy

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, also known as stress cardiomyopathy, is a type of heart disease in which there is a sudden temporary weakening of part of the heart muscule without blockage of the arteries to the heart. Symptoms may include chest pain, shortness of breath, and brief loss of consciousness. Complications may include heart failure, arrhythmia, stroke, and sudden cardiac death.

It usually occurs as a result of significant stress, either physical or emotional. This may include death of a loved one, divorce, public speaking, assault, chemotherapy, pheochromocytoma, and vomiting. The mechanism is believed to involve a surge of catecholamines, including adrenaline and norepinephrine, which increases the work of and decreases blood flow to the heart. Diagnosis is based on cardiac catheterization finding unblocked coronary arteries together with ballooning of the left ventricle. ECG findings may be similar to a myocardial infarction (MI). Troponin elevation may occur, though is generally low.

Initial management involves supportive care. There is no evidence that treatment can prevent recurrence. Although the heart generally returns to normal over days to week, about 4% of people die during the initial episode, and there is a 12% risk of recurrence. Cases due to physical illness rather than emotional stress are associated with worse outcomes.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy occurs worldwide. It occurs more commonly in women after menopause. It is thought to be responsible for about 2 to 7% of what are initially though to be heart attacks. It was first described in 1990 by Sato. The name comes from the Japanese word takotsubo meaning "octopus trap", as the heart takes the shape of an octopus trap. It has colloquially been called "broken heart syndrome".