What is takotsubo cardiomyopathy?

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy causes the left ventricle of your heart to change shape and get larger. This weakens the heart muscle and means it doesn't pump blood as well as it should.

The word ‘takotsubo’ originates from the name for a Japanese octopus trap, as the left ventricle of the heart changes into a similar shape as the trap - developing a narrow neck and a round bottom.

It can develop at any age, but typically affects more women than men. Unlike some other cardiomyopathies, like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), it's not an inherited heart condition.

It's also called acute stress-induced cardiomyopathy, takotsubo syndrome, apical ballooning syndrome or just takotsubo for short.

What are the symptoms of takotsubo cardiomyopathy?

Symptoms can often feel similar to heart attack symptoms. These can include:

chest pain

shortness of breath.

If you think you're having a heart attack you should call 999 immediately.

Some people may have other symptoms including:

palpitations

nausea

vomiting.

What causes takotsubo cardiomyopathy?

It's not known exactly what causes takotsubo, but it's often brought on by emotional or physical distress. Some examples of triggers may include:

bereavement

domestic abuse

physical assault

acute illness

recent surgery

financial worries or debt

being involved in a disaster, such as an earthquake.

There have also been reports of people experiencing takotsubo after a happy event such as a wedding, reunion or a new job.

Around 30 per cent of people won't be able to identify a specific trigger that caused the condition.