Snow-Shoveling-Induced Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy

Conn Med. 2016 Nov;80(10):589-591.

Abstract

Snow shoveler's infarction is the phenomenon of increased incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) in the days following a snow storm. Followingheavy snowfall, public awareness of snow- shoveling-induced MI is heightened by news cover- age. We report a case of show-shoveling-induced chest pain with ECG changes concerning for MI. Emergent angiography revealed normal coronary arteries and apical ballooning consistent with ta- kotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM). TCM, a transient cardiomyopathy, is often clinically indistinguishable from MI and is often induced by emotional/ physical stress. In conclusion, TCM is an alternative diagnosis to MI in patients presenting with chest pain after a period of heavy snowfall.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Chest Pain / etiology
  • Electrocardiography
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Snow*
  • Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy / diagnosis
  • Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy / etiology*