Stress Induced Cardiomyopathy What Are the Symptoms and Treatment?
Stress-Induced Cardiomyopathy: What Are the Symptoms and Treatment? Health ConditionsFeaturedBreast CancerIBD MigraineMultiple Sclerosis (MS)Rheumatoid ArthritisType 2 DiabetesSponsored TopicsArticlesAcid RefluxADHDAllergiesAlzheimer's & DementiaBipolar DisorderCancerCrohn's DiseaseChronic PainCold & FluCOPDDepressionFibromyalgiaHeart DiseaseHigh CholesterolHIVHypertensionIPFOsteoarthritisPsoriasisSkin Disorders and CareSTDsDiscoverWellness TopicsNutritionFitnessSkin CareSexual HealthWomen's HealthMental HealthSleepOriginal SeriesFresh Food FastDiagnosis DiariesYou’re Not AlonePresent TenseVideo SeriesYouth in FocusHealthy HarvestNo More SilenceFuture of HealthPlanHealth ChallengesMindful EatingSugar SavvyMove Your BodyGut HealthMood FoodsAlign Your SpineFind CarePrimary CareMental HealthOB-GYNDermatologistsNeurologistsCardiologistsOrthopedistsLifestyle QuizzesWeight ManagementAm I Depressed? A Quiz for TeensAre You a Workaholic?How Well Do You Sleep?Tools & ResourcesHealth NewsFind a DietFind Healthy SnacksDrugs A-ZHealth A-ZConnectFind Your Bezzy CommunityBreast CancerInflammatory Bowel DiseasePsoriatic ArthritisMigraineMultiple SclerosisPsoriasisFollow us on social mediaShopProducts by ConditionInsomniaStress ReliefBack PainNeck PainSleep ApneaHot SleepersAllergiesPain ReliefProduct ReviewsVitamins & SupplementsSleepMental HealthNutritionAt-Home TestingCBDMen’s HealthWomen’s HealthHealth ConditionsDiscoverPlanConnectShopSubscribe
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430798/Coutsoumbas GV, et al. (2020). Long-term injury after takotsubo syndrome (stress cardiomyopathy).
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7270968/Nyman E, et al. (2019). Trigger factors in takotsubo syndrome-a systematic review of case reports.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30833207/Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. (2020).
rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/takotsubo-cardiomyopathy/Uribarri A, et al. (2019). Short- and long-term prognosis of patients with takotsubo syndrome based on different triggers: Importance of the physical nature.
ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.119.013701Y-Hassan S, et al. (2018). Epidemiology, pathogenesis, and management of takotsubo syndrome.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5805795/Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Current Version Oct 13, 2022 By James Roland Edited By Mike Hoskins Medically Reviewed By Uzochukwu Ibe, MD, MPH Copy Edited By Sara Giusti Share this articleMedically reviewed by Uzochukwu Ibe, MD, MPH — By James Roland on October 13, 2022
Stress-Induced Cardiomyopathy Symptoms and Treatment
Medically reviewed by Uzochukwu Ibe, MD, MPH — By James Roland on October 13, 2022A diagnosis of stress-induced cardiomyopathy is also known as takotsubo cardiomyopathy and broken heart syndrome. It means the heart has been weakened by an acute period of emotional or physical stress. It can bring on heart attack–like symptoms. Stress-induced cardiomyopathy can potentially be a life threatening condition. Most people who experience stress-induced cardiomyopathy recover with little or no treatment beyond the use of medications to ease the workload of the heart. However, in rare cases, heart failure and other complications can develop, requiring more invasive treatments to support heart function.What is stress-induced cardiomyopathy
When stress-induced cardiomyopathy occurs, the lower part of the left ventricle — the heart’s main pumping chamber — expands. This change in the left ventricle’s shape and size can cause the heart to work harder to pump blood efficiently throughout the body. Stress-induced cardiomyopathy is usually a reversible condition. Full recovery is likely in most cases.Causes and risk factors
The reason stress-induced cardiomyopathy is also referred to as “broken heart syndrome” is that it usually occurs soon after a stressful event, such as the loss of a spouse or partner. According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders, about 90% of the people who develop stress-induced cardiomyopathy are women. About 8 out of 10 of them are ages 50 and older. Though the condition is often associated with the sudden loss of a spouse, any stressful situation can trigger stress-induced cardiomyopathy. Often, triggers fall into one of two categories: emotional or physical stress. Some common triggers include:asthma attackdiagnosis of a chronic illnessgriefinfectionfinancial problemsneurological events, such as a strokepregnancysepsissurgery Certain drugs, including those that treat severe allergies, nervous system disorders, depression, and thyroid disease, may also be risk factors. A 2018 research paper suggests that about 70% of people diagnosed with stress-induced cardiomyopathy can identify a trigger, meaning that more than 1 in 4 people can’t pinpoint what may have caused the onset of it. A 2019 research review suggests that physical triggers are more common than emotional triggers. An acute episode of stress may cause an abnormally high level of stress hormones to flood the body. Normally, these hormones help you get through a stressful situation. But if too much adrenaline and other chemicals, such as catecholamines, begin circulating, several potentially harmful changes can occur. The small arteries within the heart can narrow, limiting blood flow to the heart muscle. Hormones may bind to cells in the heart, allowing calcium to accumulate quickly and reducing the efficiency of the heart’s pumping action.What are the symptoms
Symptoms of stress-induced cardiomyopathy may begin within a few minutes or hours of a stressful event. They may also appear later on — particularly in relation to emotional triggers — as you process the stressors in your life. Some of the most common symptoms include:chest pain that may come on suddenly and severelydizziness or lightheadednessa racing heartshortness of breathsweating for no reason (it may feel like a cold sweat)How do you diagnose stress-induced cardiomyopathy
Stress-induced cardiomyopathy often resembles acute coronary syndrome (ACS). ACS refers to the sudden reduction in blood flow to the heart muscle. ACS can include a heart attack or angina (chest pain). To distinguish stress-induced cardiomyopathy from ACS, a healthcare professional may perform several tests and order imaging tests. Among them are:blood tests to check for cholesterol, glucose, and certain protein levels that can indicate a heart attack or other heart problemchest X-raycoronary angiography, which uses cardiac catheterization to measure blood flow through the heartechocardiogramelectrocardiogramMRI A doctor will also review your medical history and any other symptoms you may have, including emotional stress and feelings of depression and anxiety. If there’s a likely physical or emotional trigger, be sure to share that information with the healthcare professional making the diagnosis.Can stress-induced cardiomyopathy be reversed or cured
In most cases, stress-induced cardiomyopathy can be reversed with no long-term complications. However, in some people, the condition can lead to recurring symptoms. In rare cases, serious health problems, such as heart failure, might materialize.How do you treat this condition
Stress-induced cardiomyopathy used to be seen as a fairly benign condition, but in recent years, healthcare professionals have begun to take it more seriously. Today, healthcare professionals make it a greater priority to start treatment early and carefully watch for signs of complications. There’s no formal treatment for stress-induced cardiomyopathy. In most cases, doctors prescribe medications to lighten the burden on the heart and lower blood pressure. Some commonly prescribed drugs include:angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitorsangiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs)beta-blockersdiuretics A brief hospital stay may be needed, especially if symptoms and left ventricular dysfunction are serious. After discharge, participating in cardiac rehabilitation may be helpful. During cardiac rehab, you learn more about maintaining optimal heart health through: exercisedietlifestyle changesmedicationsregular doctors’ appointments If an emotional trigger set off stress-induced cardiomyopathy, your doctor may recommend mental health counseling to help you cope with your grief, anxiety, or other challenges.What does recovery look like
In many cases, recovery depends on the trigger. A 2019 study suggests that physical triggers are associated with a worse outlook and higher risk of death than emotional triggers. This is largely because physical triggers are often serious medical conditions, such as a stroke. The more effectively and thoroughly you manage the underlying physical cause of stress-induced cardiomyopathy, the better chances you have of experiencing a full recovery. Similarly, therapy or other means of managing your emotional and psychological health can also improve your recovery odds. A 2020 review suggests that for most people with stress-induced cardiomyopathy, left ventricular function usually returns to normal in 4 to 8 weeks, though nearly one-third of people diagnosed with stress-induced cardiomyopathy continue to have episodes of chest pain. Review authors also noted that about 11% of people diagnosed with the condition and discharged from a hospital have a recurrence of stress-induced cardiomyopathy during the 4 years following hospital discharge.Takeaway
Because stress-induced cardiomyopathy and a heart attack have similar symptoms, it’s critical that you treat sudden and intense chest pain and related symptoms as a medical emergency. If you receive a diagnosis of stress-induced cardiomyopathy, talk with your doctor about what to look out for if complications may be developing. You can also make it a priority to manage your physical and mental health to lessen the chances of recurrence. Last medically reviewed on October 13, 2022How we vetted this article
SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Ahmad SA, et al. (2022). Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430798/Coutsoumbas GV, et al. (2020). Long-term injury after takotsubo syndrome (stress cardiomyopathy).
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7270968/Nyman E, et al. (2019). Trigger factors in takotsubo syndrome-a systematic review of case reports.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30833207/Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. (2020).
rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/takotsubo-cardiomyopathy/Uribarri A, et al. (2019). Short- and long-term prognosis of patients with takotsubo syndrome based on different triggers: Importance of the physical nature.
ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.119.013701Y-Hassan S, et al. (2018). Epidemiology, pathogenesis, and management of takotsubo syndrome.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5805795/Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Current Version Oct 13, 2022 By James Roland Edited By Mike Hoskins Medically Reviewed By Uzochukwu Ibe, MD, MPH Copy Edited By Sara Giusti Share this articleMedically reviewed by Uzochukwu Ibe, MD, MPH — By James Roland on October 13, 2022