A practical, sometimes humorous, sometimes devastating, guide to the little-known, poorly understood but increasingly prevalent health problem, broken-heart syndrome, also known as takotsubo cardiomyopathy. This is a condition in which the heart muscle becomes suddenly and severely weakened, often as a result of great emotional and/or physical stress, causing the heart's left ventricle (main pumping chamber) to become significantly enlarged, resembling a Japanese octopus trap (a tako-tsubo). Correctly diagnosed and treated, the condition is thought to be fully reversible. Based around her own experience of this syndrome following a close friend's sudden death and her mother's suicide, the Author explains the risks, the signs to look out for, the Dos and Don'ts and the best ways to promote recovery. She includes a selection of other patients' stories that show the diversity of happenings that can lead to a takotsubo event, as well as input from two cardiogists/heart specialistis who share the difficulties of identifying and treating the condition.
