Slashdot Mirror


Hearts Actually Can Break

DesScorp writes "It seems that there's a grain of truth to one old wives' tale; it turns out that you really can die of a broken heart, especially if you're a post-menopausal woman. The Wall Street Journal reports on a phenomena called 'broken-heart syndrome,' which often occurs after great emotional distress. Quoting: 'In a conventional heart attack, an obstructed artery starves the heart muscle of oxygenated blood, quickly resulting in the death of tissue and potentially permanently compromising heart function. In contrast, the heart muscle in broken-heart-syndrome patients is stunned in the adrenaline surge and appears to go into hibernation. Little tissue is lost.' In the article a doctor notes, 'The cells are alive, but mechanically or electrically disabled.' Documented cases track heart attacks in people with seemingly healthy hearts after the grief of the death of a loved one. Intense feelings can cause the heart actually to change shape. Doctors call this 'tako-tsubo,' after the Japanese phrase for 'octopus trap,' so called because the syndrome was first identified by a Japanese doctor who noticed the strange shape in the left ventricle. Doctors note that while strong emotions like grief are usually associated with the syndrome, stress or a migraine can also trigger such heart attacks."

6 of 136 comments (clear)

  1. Octopus? by zepo1a · · Score: 5, Funny

    Leave it to the Japanese to somehow work tentacles into the ailment!

    :)

    1. Re:Octopus? by AdamThor · · Score: 4, Funny

      Doctors call this 'tako-tsubo,' after the Japanese phrase for 'octopus trap,' so called because the syndrome was first identified by a Japanese doctor who noticed the strange shape in the left ventricle.

      Can you imagine the patter in the ER / OR if we were to adopt more Japanese names for common ailments?

      Doctor, the patient is suffering from the Octopus Trap!
      What? He's fibulating! Set us up the bomb!
      The Bomb is ready!
      Activate! *WHUMP*
      GASP... Beep... beep... beep...
      Doctor, he's stabilizing!
      Good! Keep an eye on him... There's a case of Giant Robot I need to address, and after that room 223's Frozen Devil Injury seems to be getting worse...

      --
      -- "Oh. This guy again."
  2. liquid nitrogen by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Liquid N2 can also break your heart. Shatter it actually

  3. Re:I think everybody knew this. by ls671 · · Score: 4, Funny

    > Try being married for 27 years to a serial adulteress

    Can you please tell me where your house is located ? ;-))

    --
    Everything I write is lies, read between the lines.
  4. Bad pickup line by GaryOlson · · Score: 5, Funny

    "You are so beautiful, if you don't talk to me I could die of stress-induced cardiomyopathy"

    --
    Every mans' island needs an ocean; choose your ocean carefully.
    1. Re:Bad pickup line by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 4, Funny

      What if she's a cardiology student?

      --
      Ezekiel 23:20