Stress cardiomyopathy: It’s where intense physical or emotional stress causes the heart muscle to weaken rapidly and, sometimes, extremely.
Stressors are emotional that trigger this type of condition can be fear, grief, or awe, while physical stressors that could trigger the condition include asthma or the pain of an accident. The condition is also referred to by the name of “broken-heart syndrome” or takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Though there are some complications for those suffering from this condition, they tend to be able to complete fully recover in just the span of a few weeks. Also, it does not cause permanent harm to the heart in contrast to other heart problems.
It can be seen at any age, but it is more prevalent in women than males. It’s a rare kind of cardiomyopathy. As per the American College of Cardiology, 15-30 cases of this condition are reported within every 100,000 cases of heart problems every time across the United States. However, the actual number may be higher since milder types are more likely to be identified or to receive medical attention.
Causes
The precise causes for stress cardiomyopathy is not known. Research suggests that an abrupt increase in adrenaline, a stress hormone, can be a powerful force for tearing the heart’s muscle.
This leads to changes in the heart’s cells and muscles, which causes the left ventricle to expand and alter its shape, which prevents the heart from functioning properly.
The term “takotsubo” is derived from the Japanese trap for octopuses. The left ventricle’s shape is comparable to the trap in this case. This is the reason why the condition is often referred to in the form of takotsubo cardiomyopathy, or takotsubo syndrome.
The condition is usually caused by physical or emotional stressors. Stressors that can be emotionally stressful and cause of stress cardiomyopathy are:
i. The death of a loved one
ii. Job loss
iii. A sudden surprise like a surprise party
vi. Financial loss
v. Assault
iv. Being a victim of a natural catastrophe
Physical stressors such as an operation or illness are also the main reason for the condition. The most common causes are:
i. Sudden drop in blood pressure
ii. Serious accident
iii. Serious condition
iv. Feeling intense pain
v. Surgery
Signs
The most frequent manifestations of this condition are those associated with a heart attack. It can be sudden.
Contrary to heart attacks, which kill heart cells this kind of cardiomyopathy can cause heart cells to be stunned. This makes the recovery process from the condition faster than recovery time after an attack. Common signs include:
1.Breathing problems
2. Chest pain
3. Nausea
4. Vomiting
5. Fatigue
6. Low blood pressure
7. Dizziness
8. Heartbeat irregularity
9. Acute cardiogenic shock (an inability of your heart to pump blood enough to meet the demands of your body)
Diagnosis
If it is diagnosed, stress cardiomyopathy can be misinterpreted as an attack on the heart due to its common symptoms. In some instances, ECGs (ECG) might reveal similar irregularities on the heart in a patient suffering from stress cardiomyopathy like the heart of someone who has suffered from an attack of the heart. Most of the time, the condition isn’t life-threatening and those who suffer from it just require enough rest and care for a complete recovery. In rare instances, it could cause complications like high blood pressure or heart disease.
To Ensure That The Correct Diagnosis Is Established Medical Professionals Will Search For The Following:
1. There isn’t any sign of any blockage within the coronary blood vessels (this is among the main causes of heart attacks)
2. If there’s an unusual swelling or movement of the ventricle left (the section of the heart that is affected by stress cardiomyopathy)
3. In the event of a small increase in the cardiac biomarkers (substances released into the bloodstream if the heart is stressed or damaged)
4. If there was a physical or emotional trigger or a mixture of the two, took place within a short time before the condition onset (this isn’t a requirement)
5. If you’re postmenopausal, research shows the postmenopausal women have the greatest probability of developing this condition.
6. The condition isn’t always triggered by a stressful event. Some instances of the condition do not have a clear trigger.
Treatment
If you are experiencing chest pain and shortness of breath because of this condition, you will need to go to the hospital immediately. This condition can lead to heart failure if it’s not treated quickly enough.
The treatment for SCM includes taking medications such as beta blockers to treat high blood pressure and heart rate and nitrates to dilate the blood vessels. If these treatments don’t work, doctors might perform an angioplasty procedure to open up blocked arteries or use medication that causes the heart muscles to contract more strongly.
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