Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, also known as
transient apical ballooning syndrome,
apical ballooning cardiomyopathy,
stress-induced cardiomyopathy,
Gebrochenes-Herz-Syndrom, and
stress cardiomyopathy is a type of non-
ischemic cardiomyopathy in which there is a sudden temporary weakening of the
muscular portion of the heart. Because this weakening can be triggered by emotional stress, such as the death of a loved one, a break-up, or constant anxiety, it is also known as
broken-heart syndrome. Stress cardiomyopathy is a well-recognized cause of acute
heart failure, lethal ventricular
arrhythmias, and
ventricular rupture.