Notes

But a proverbial broken heart can cause physical symptoms, too. And sometimes, in rare cases, those physiological changes—often accompanied by other underlying conditions—can be life threatening.According to The New England Journal of Medicine, researchers may have found another case in Texas: a study published this week describes a woman whose heart disease could be connected to the loss of her cherished pet. But potential cases come up often enough for the condition to earn a name: Takotsubo syndrome, or Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. But in the case of Takotsubo syndrome, what appears to be a massive heart attack comes without any identifiable clot to cause it. . The patient often complains of shortness of breath, has dangerously high blood pressure, and experiences chest pain. But instead of a clot, weakened heart muscles are to blame. The many clinical case reports and studies on Takotsubo syndrome suggest that this condition almost always presents in individuals who have experienced some sort of intense trauma or extreme emotional hardship—losing a loved one, especially a spouse or a child. smaller studies, suggest that the cause of the syndrome is likely rooted in a hormonal response to extreme stress.The stress hormones themselves can cause muscles in the heart to become weak. While Takotsubo syndrome can strike anyonSince estrogen levels tend to decrease with age, older woman might be at a higher risk of the syndrome turning deadly.e at any age who is experiencing severe emotional distress or trauma, it’s rarely fatal. researchers are gaining a better understanding of what the condition is and who is most at risk. With this information, they say, they will be better able to treat it.