Broken heart syndrome, also known as Takosuboto cardiomyopathy, is a temporary heart condition  often brought on by extreme situations, such as the death of a loved one or a natural disaster.

People with broken heart syndrome may have sudden chest pain or believe they are having a heart attack. It is characterized by a temporary enlargement and weakening of the heart muscle, which is often triggered by extreme physical or emotional stress. The remainder of the heart functions normally or with even more forceful contractions.

In addition, biomarkers in the blood and changes on an electrocardiogram can raise suspicions of possible heart attack. While Takosuboto cardiomyopathy typically resolves within a month or two, it can result in serious complications, such as heart failure, life-threatening arrhythmias, and stroke. As many as one in four patients with broken heart syndrome have some form of arrhythmia, while between one to seven percent suffer cardiac arrest.

Many patients with broken heart syndrome are diagnosed in the lab when doctors see there are no blockages in the artery, or imaging reveals changes in the shape of the heart that are characteristic of the syndrome.
“By and large, it is a very reversible form of cardiomyopathy, but in the acute phase these patients need to be monitored closely to be sure they are stable and to prevent and manage problems,” said Sadip Pant, M.D., an internist at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. “It’s also something that emergency doctors and medical personnel need to be aware of as they are often on the frontlines seeing patients after disaster strikes.”

It is thought the episodes are caused by the sympathetic response and surges of adrenaline in the body, similar to the fight-or-flight reaction, he noted. This leads to depressed function of the apex and middle segment of the heart of the base, producing a balloon-like appearance, he explained.

“It’s a perfect example of our brain-heart connection,” Pant said. “The emotional stress we have in our brain can lead to responses in the heart, and not much is known about this condition.”