What is another name for acute stress cardiomyopathy, and what exactly is it?

serpa

Broken Heart Syndrome (BHS) also called stress cardiomyopathy, is triggered by extreme and sudden emotional trauma. Reported triggers have included unexpected news of a death, domestic abuse, armed robbery, and even a surprise party. The condition manifests with symptoms suggesting an acute heart attack (severe pressure-like chest pain, shortness of breath, and a sense of impending doom).... Many patients with BHS are initially in severe heart failure, and require aggressive and intensive cardiac care. With appropriate care, however, not only do they survive, but also their cardiomyopathy completely resolves within a few days to weeks. http://heartdisease.about.com/od/womenheartdisease/a/brokenheart.htm Jul 05 10, 4:50 PM

star_gazer

The term "broken heart syndrome" may not be the best name for this syndrome, as one typically thinks of a broken heart as something that occurs after receiving a Dear John letter, rather than something that happens after seeing a loaded .44 magnum shoved in one's face. Nonetheless, this terminology has resulted in lots of publicity, and the knowledge of this new syndrome consequently has been rapidly and widely disseminated. And that widespread awareness is good. Perhaps the publicity around this "broken heart syndrome" will draw women's and doctors' attention to the general fact that heart disease in women is different from heart disease in men - but is no less frequent and no less lethal. If so, the inaccurate terminology used throughout the mass media will turn out to have been a good thing. http://heartdisease.about.com/od/womenheartdisease/a/brokenheart.htm Jul 05 10, 6:08 PM