Dr. Stephanie Coulter In the News: Broken Heart Syndrome: Symptoms, Causes and Treatments

Because broken heart syndrome is sudden, ER doctors are usually the first to see patients who experience the condition.

Dr. Stephanie Coulter is quoted in an article, Broken Heart Syndrome: Symptoms, Causes and Treatments, published in U.S. News & World Report. The article explores broken heart syndrome, also known as stress-induced cardiomyopathy, a temporary heart condition that mimics a heart attack but is caused by intense emotional or physical stress rather than blocked arteries. The condition primarily affects the left ventricle of the heart, leading to symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, and irregular heartbeat. While it can be serious, broken heart syndrome is usually reversible with proper medical care.

Because broken heart syndrome is sudden, ER doctors are usually the first to see patients who experience the condition.

“The ER doctor has a good idea when he or she sees someone … and can make a good assessment of whether this patient has atherosclerotic heart disease,” says Dr. Stephanie Coulter, founding medical director of the Women’s Center for Heart & Vascular Health and assistant medical director of the Texas Heart Institute. “The patients who show up with takotsubo (cardiomyopathy) … don’t have atherosclerotic heart disease, so they don’t have hypertension, smoking, diabetes or obesity.”

The article discusses key risk factors, such as gender, anxiety, and extreme stress events, and highlights the importance of medical testing to differentiate it from a heart attack. Experts emphasize the role of stress hormones like adrenaline in weakening the heart and provide insights on diagnosis and treatment, including beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, and stress management techniques. The piece underscores the need for awareness, early intervention, and lifestyle adjustments to prevent recurrence.

Read the full story here.