Free
E-newsletter
Subscribe to Housecall
Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date
on a wide variety of health topics.
close window
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffIf your doctor suspects you have broken heart syndrome, he or she will use these exams and tests to make a diagnosis:
- Personal history and physical exam. In addition to a standard physical exam, your doctor will want to know about your medical history, especially whether you've ever had heart disease symptoms. People who have broken heart syndrome typically don't have any heart disease symptoms before they're diagnosed with broken heart syndrome. Also, your doctor will want to know if you've experienced any major stresses recently, such as the death of a loved one.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG). In this noninvasive test, a technician will place wires on your chest that record the electrical impulses that make your heart beat. An ECG records these electrical signals and can help your doctor detect irregularities in your heart's rhythm and structure.
- Chest X-ray. Your doctor will likely order a chest X-ray of your chest to see if your heart is enlarged or has the shape that's typical of broken heart syndrome, or to see if there are any problems in your lungs that could be causing your symptoms.
- Echocardiogram. Your doctor may also order an echocardiogram to see if your heart is enlarged or has an abnormal shape, a sign of broken heart syndrome. This noninvasive exam, which includes an ultrasound of your chest, shows detailed images of your heart's structure and function. Ultrasound waves are transmitted, and their echoes are recorded with a device called a transducer that's held outside your body. A computer uses the information from the transducer to create moving images on a video monitor.
- Blood tests. Most people who have broken heart syndrome have an increased amount of certain enzymes in their blood. Your doctor may order blood tests to check for these enzymes to help diagnose broken heart syndrome.
References
- Nef HM, et al. Mechanisms of stress (Takotsubo) cardiomyopathy. Nature Reviews. 2010;7:187.
- Wynne J, et al. Cardiomyopathy and myocarditis. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2902533. Accessed Dec. 8, 2010.
- Brenner ZR, et al. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Heart and Lung. 2008;37:1.
- Derrick D. The "broken heart syndrome": Understanding Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Critical Care Nurse. 2009;29:49.
- Grogan M (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 14, 2010.
- Martin EA, et al. Endothelial function and vascular response to mental stress are impaired in patients with apical ballooning syndrome. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2010;56:1840.
- Rosenow E (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 11, 2010.
Find Mayo Clinic on