February 10, 2005 -- In a Valentine’s Day-related story, a team from Johns Hopkins University reported on a reversible left ventricular dysfunction precipitated by emotional stress. The patients presented with heart attack-like symptoms, but the damage was temporary and went away in three to four weeks. Nineteen patients were evaluated, all presenting with left ventricular dysfunction after sudden emotional stress. The good news is that, despite a severe clinical picture, everything turns out just fine in the end. But you probably should be extra careful when bringing bad news to middle aged and elderly women, it seems.
