It could prevent unnecessary invasive procedures
3:30 PM CDT on August 31, 2026
Takotsubo syndrome or “stress cardiomyopathy” is better known by its more familiar name: broken-heart syndrome. It’s called that because it usually follows an acute emotional stressor, like losing a loved one. Although broken-heart syndrome presents a lot like a traditional heart attack, it’s caused by a weakening of the left ventricle with no arterial blockage, and it’s tough to diagnose.
Differentiating broken-heart syndrome from a heart attack often requires a catheter snaked through the blood vessels to the heart. Even determining risk factors for the disease involves taking a history, which is easier said than done in an emergency. But now, a new study shows it may be possible to test for broken-heart syndrome without invasive procedures.
Read more: “Heart Attacks in Space”
