Real Danger Exists in Broken Heart Syndrome.

PositionTAKOTSUBO CARDIOMYOPATHY

Heartache and heartsick--these are more than metaphors from love songs and romance novels, as they also can portray a real medical condition. A growing body of research shows that the proverbial broken heart can be physical as well as emotional, says Dawn DeWitt, associate dean of Clinical Education at the College of Medicine at Washington State University, Spokane.

"Love, friendship, and connection to others not only make us happy, but make us healthier and even help us live longer. Our hearts are dramatically influenced by our feelings and connections to others. Thais why severe emotional stress, such as the loss of a spouse or a difficult breakup, can be more than a psychological problem. It can also become a physiological problem."

Scientific interest in takotsubo cardiomyopathy--nicknamed broken heart syndrome--has increased steadily since it was described in Japan in 1990. Triggered by an intense emotional event, its symptoms mimic a heart attack.

When a patient's heart "breaks," the left ventricle weakens, decreasing its ability to pump and producing chest pain and shortness of breath, explains DeWitt. "Unlike a heart attack, the...

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