Stress cardiomyopathy: aetiology and management.

Stress cardiomyopathy is a condition caused by intense emotional or physical stress leading to rapid and severe reversible cardiac dysfunction. It mimics myocardial infarction with changes in the electrocardiogram and echocardiogram, but without any obstructive coronary artery disease. Due to the awareness created by the media and internet, every patient is aware that they should seek help immediately for chest pain. Therefore physicians should be aware of this new condition and how to diagnose and treat it, even though the causal mechanisms are not yet fully understood.