Stress Cardiomyopathy

Stress cardiomyopathy, a mysterious condition commonly known as broken heart syndrome or takotsubo cardiomyopathy, can produceintense chest pain and other symptoms that can feel like a heart attack. In fact, about 5% of women having a heart attack actually have this condition. The good news is that most people with stress cardiomyopathy have full recovery with no long term damage to their heart.

Women are particularly vulnerable to stress cardiomyopathy. Researchers found that women are approximately 9 times more likely than men to experience stress cardiomyopathy. The majority of those affected are post-menopausal. Treatment includes consultation with a cardiologist and risk factor modification.


What Causes Broken Heart Syndrome?

The exact mechanism is not fully understood, but we think it has to do with a surge in stress hormones (like adrenaline or dopamine) in reaction to extreme emotional or physical stress, for example, learning about the sudden death of a family member, a divorce or a car accident. Fortunately, it’s almost always temporary and rarely fatal. The majority of patients recover within a month.

Stress hormones increase your heart rate, elevate your blood pressure and provide bursts of energy that in large quantities can
disrupt heart function.


What’s the Difference Between Broken Heart Syndrome and a Heart Attack?

Heart attacks are usually caused by blocked heart arteries. A blockage begins with a blood clot caused by the buildup of plaques or fatty material, a disease known as atherosclerosis, in the artery walls. The blocked artery can result in damage to the heart, reducing its ability to pump blood efficiently.

In broken heart syndrome, your heart’s arteries are not blocked but the heart’s pumping function is suddenly reduced..


Signs of Broken Heart Syndrome

Remember, this condition can closely mimic a heart attack. So look for:

  • Chest pain/pressure/tightness
  • Shortness of breath
  • Pounding heart (palpitations)
  • Dizziness
  • Sweating
  • Nausea, vomiting
  • General weakness
  • Passing out

Risk Factors

  • Sex: This condition affects far more females than males. We don’t know yet why women have this condition more than men, but we do know that they become more vulnerable after menopause, with most cases occurring in postmenopausal women.
  • Age: Women 55 and older are almost three times more likely than younger women to develop broken heart syndrome, according to a study.
  • Mental health: A history of anxiety or depression increases your risk.

Treating Stress Cardiomyopathy

There is no standard treatment for stress cardiomyopathy, but often we use similar medications that we use to treat heart failure, particularly beta-blockers, ace-inhibitors and diuretics. Fortunately, most patients fully recover in a few weeks but we often continue medications for longer with the goal of preventing a recurrence. We also focus on modifying risk factors for heart disease.


Learn More

Women’s Heart Wellness Program

The goal of the Women’s Heart Wellness Program is to provide comprehensive, personalized and compassionate care to women at risk for, and those living with heart disease.

Providers & Locations


Meet our Cardiomyopathy Specialists

Showing 1 - 25 of 48


Name Specialties Location
Agin, Elliot David, MD, FACC Agin, Elliot David, MD, FACC
4.8 /5
186 surveys
203.874.1512
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Echocardiography
  • Internal Medicine
Show Less
  • Milford
Alter, Eric Louis, MD, FACC, RPVI Alter, Eric Louis, MD, FACC, RPVI 203.254.2452
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Echocardiography
  • Internal Medicine
  • Nuclear Cardiology
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  • Fairfield
  • Fairfield
  • Milford
  • Stratford
Show Less
Ansari, Ehsan, MD Ansari, Ehsan, MD 203.573.1435
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Internal Medicine
  • Interventional Cardiology
Show Less
  • Waterbury
Barbour, Mohamad Firas, MD Barbour, Mohamad Firas, MD 860.242.8756
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Bloomfield
Bell, Jennifer, MD Bell, Jennifer, MD 860.972.1212
  • Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
Show Less
  • Hartford
  • Bridgeport
Show Less
Bhatt, Paras Satish, MD Bhatt, Paras Satish, MD
4.9 /5
136 surveys
860.889.9180
  • Cardiac Electrophysiology
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Internal Medicine
Show Less
  • Norwich
  • Branford
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Bleich, Steven, MD Bleich, Steven, MD 860.522.0604
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Glastonbury
Borer, Steven Michael, DO, FACC Borer, Steven Michael, DO, FACC
5.0 /5
364 surveys
860.522.5712
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Internal Medicine
  • Nuclear Cardiology
Show Less
  • Hartford
  • Farmington
  • Manchester
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Casey, David Madigan, MD, FACC Casey, David Madigan, MD, FACC
4.9 /5
335 surveys
860.572.5400
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Internal Medicine
  • Nuclear Cardiology
Show Less
  • Plainfield
  • Mystic
  • Norwich
Show Less
Chokshi, Moulin Y., MD Chokshi, Moulin Y., MD
4.8 /5
71 surveys
203.678.1050
  • Cardiac Electrophysiology
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
Show Less
  • Bloomfield
  • Wallingford
  • West Hartford
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Corning, Joseph James, MD, FACC, FACP Corning, Joseph James, MD, FACC, FACP
4.9 /5
334 surveys
860.972.1506
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Internal Medicine
  • Nuclear Cardiology
Show Less
  • Middletown
  • Old Saybrook
Show Less
Crespo, Eric Michael, MD, FACC, FHRS Crespo, Eric Michael, MD, FACC, FHRS
4.9 /5
156 surveys
860.972.1506
  • Cardiac Electrophysiology
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Internal Medicine
Show Less
  • West Hartford
  • Hartford
  • Wallingford
  • Wethersfield
Show Less
Dougherty, Kevin Russell, MD, FACC Dougherty, Kevin Russell, MD, FACC 860.522.0604
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Internal Medicine
  • Nuclear Cardiology
Show Less
  • Hartford
  • Farmington
  • Glastonbury
  • Wethersfield
Show Less
Duncan, Brett Hunter, MD, FACC Duncan, Brett Hunter, MD, FACC
4.9 /5
518 surveys
860.522.5712
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Internal Medicine
  • Nuclear Cardiology
Show Less
  • Hartford
  • Farmington
  • Manchester
Show Less
Farrell, William Joseph, MD, FACC Farrell, William Joseph, MD, FACC 203.265.9831
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Internal Medicine
  • Interventional Cardiology
  • Nuclear Cardiology
Show Less
  • Wallingford
Feingold, Andrew David, MD, FACC Feingold, Andrew David, MD, FACC 860.522.0604
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Internal Medicine
  • Nuclear Cardiology
Show Less
  • Hartford
  • Avon
  • Glastonbury
Show Less
Ferraro-Borgida, Melissa Joy, MD, FACC Ferraro-Borgida, Melissa Joy, MD, FACC
4.8 /5
365 surveys
860.522.5712
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Cardio-Obstetrics
  • Echocardiography
  • Nuclear Cardiology
Show Less
  • Hartford
  • Farmington
  • Manchester
Show Less
Friedman, Meir, MD, FACC, FHRS Friedman, Meir, MD, FACC, FHRS
4.8 /5
87 surveys
860.972.1506
  • Cardiac Electrophysiology
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Internal Medicine
Show Less
  • West Hartford
  • Hartford
  • Middletown
  • New Britain
Show Less
Gluck, Jason Aaron, DO, FACC Gluck, Jason Aaron, DO, FACC 860.972.1212
  • Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Internal Medicine
  • Nuclear Cardiology
Show Less
  • Hartford
  • Hartford
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Goldblatt, Steven Bruce, MD, FACC Goldblatt, Steven Bruce, MD, FACC 860.456.2898
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Internal Medicine
  • Nuclear Cardiology
Show Less
  • Willimantic
Golub, Robert Joel, MD, FACC Golub, Robert Joel, MD, FACC 203.265.9831
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Echocardiography
  • Nuclear Cardiology
Show Less
  • Wallingford
Granquist, John Dickson, MD, FACC Granquist, John Dickson, MD, FACC 860.522.0604
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant
  • Internal Medicine
Show Less
  • Hartford
  • Glastonbury
  • Windsor
Show Less
Hanretta, Kelly Colleen, DO Hanretta, Kelly Colleen, DO 860.572.5400
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Mystic
  • Westerly
  • Willimantic
Show Less
Hawes, Zoe Cathleen, APRN Hawes, Zoe Cathleen, APRN
4.8 /5
31 surveys
860.886.0023
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Norwich
Jaiswal, Abhishek, MD Jaiswal, Abhishek, MD
4.9 /5
51 surveys
860.972.1212
  • Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Internal Medicine
Show Less
  • Hartford
  • Bridgeport
  • Fairfield
  • Hamden
  • Hartford
Show Less

Showing 1 - 25 of 48

Women’s Heart Wellness