Broken Heart Syndrome (Stress Cardiomyopathy): Can You Share A Patient Success Story? - Dr. Atiemo

Dr. Atiemo:
Although I treat patients with a number of different heart conditions one of my more recent success stories involve a woman who had recently come into the hospital with severe chest pain, and tests that were performed, including an electrocardiogram and lab work, supported the idea that she may have been having a heart attack.

She had been under severe emotional stress and we were concerned that she may also have, or may instead have, a condition known as stress cardiomyopathy.

The patient had an ultrasound of the heart performed, which showed that she had developed weakening of the heart, specifically the very tip of the heart appeared to be weak. We also performed an angiogram, which showed that she did not have any significant coronary artery disease. Taking together, findings were supportive that indeed she had something called broken heart syndrome, which is also known as stress cardiomyopathy.

We are able to give the patient medical therapy, including treatment for hypertension. We gave her reassurance as well that she did not have any significant coronary blockages. She saw me in followed-up and we were able to demonstrate that her heart function normalized.

She is now doing very well and we focused on some lifestyle factors for her, including stress management, along with dietary and certain exercise recommendations.

It really feels wonderful to be able to be a physician who plays a role in the health of patients in various stages of illness and I think that is one of the privileges that we have, but it’s also one of the most rewarding experiences that we can have as well.

About Dr. Andrew D. Atiemo, M.D., F.A.C.C.:
Dr. Atiemo is a cardiologist on staff at Banner Thunderbird Medical Center in Glendale, AZ. After completing his medical education at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Atiemo trained in internal medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a Harvard teaching hospital. His passion for cardiology lead him to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland where he trained in general cardiology and interventional cardiology.

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• Cardiomyopathy