Angry bowels breaking hearts: a case series.

Stress cardiomyopathy or Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is transient left ventricular apical akinesis in the absence of angiographic evidence of corresponding obstructive coronary artery disease. A classic presentation is of chest pain following intense emotional or physical stress. Reports of stress-inducing triggers include acute respiratory failure, sudden death of a loved one, sympathomimetic drugs, pheochromocytoma crisis, diabetic ketoacidosis, and even earthquakes.