What is broken heart syndrome?

What is broken heart syndrome?

Broken heart syndrome is a temporary and reversible heart condition whose symptoms mimic those of a heart attack. Unlike a heart attack, broken heart syndrome happens when a sudden physical or emotional stress causes a rapid weakening of your heart muscle.

You may think you’re having a heart attack because symptoms, such as shortness of breath and chest pain, are similar in both conditions. However, in broken heart syndrome, you (for the most part) don’t have blocked coronary arteries or permanent heart damage, and usually make a fast and full recovery.

Broken heart syndrome is also called stress cardiomyopathy or Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Takotsubo is the Japanese name for an octopus trapping pot with a wide bottom and narrow neck. The pot resembles the shape of the distressed left ventricle of the heart seen in broken heart syndrome.