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287996 tn?1312023682

emotional stress heart attack??

how can emotional stress cause a heart attack? in a heart thats basically fine
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1124887 tn?1313754891
Hello.

The "broken heart syndrome" is not a heart attack or coronary artery spasm, it's an uncommon heart muscle response to extreme stress levels, also known as "takotsubo cardiomyopathy". What happens is that the lower part of the left ventricle suddenly get reduced movement and pumping capacity. This is a rare disease, and it usually resolves with time. It can manifest with the same EKG pattern and release of enzymes as a heart attack, I think (not 100% sure).

However, emotional stress (sudden anger, etc) may increase the blood pressure severely, possibly causing a heart attack or stroke (though this is extremely uncommon in healthy people too), as a high blood pressure makes rupture of plaque inside the blood vessels more likely..

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1569985 tn?1328247482
Just to be safe, I would definitely check with your doctor.  I do know someone that had a heart attack and it was attributed to stress.  There was no damage and she was fine after, but still.  
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287996 tn?1312023682
Oh okay I was just wondering I'm under a lot of stress and have been having chest discomfort
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1569985 tn?1328247482
It is my understanding that the arteries can spasm and close off the flow of blood, when under great stress, producing a heart attack.  It is the "broken heart" that you hear of people having after the shock of losing a loved one.
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