Acute stress cardiomyopathy and deaths associated with electronic weapons

Pathophysiologic changes due to TASER® devices versus excited delirium: Potential relevance to deaths-in-custody?

“…Cevik et al 52 suggested an ECD "application does not have an acute direct effect on cardiac function but causes a final sympathetic surge from the central nervous system." Although not based on any data of any specific research studies on the topic, Holden et al 53 speculated that, independently of any primary electrical effect of ECDs, arrhythmias may be caused by exercise-or stressinduced catecholamine release.…”

Induction of intervertebral disc cell apoptosis and degeneration by chronic unpredictable stress

“…3 Acute stress increases human blood catecholamines, which, in turn, causes myofibrillar degeneration, necrosis of heart muscle, and dopaminergic neuron degeneration. 5,16,26 Stress can change the structure and function of different brain regions. 29 Other various effects of stress include exacerbation of liver, skin, gastrointestinal, pulmonary, oncological, otological, and skeletal diseases.…”

“…2 Patients with acute stress usually have high levels of catecholamines. 5 Stress increases proinflammatory cytokine levels (that is, tumor necrosis factor and interleukin1a and -1b) in the periphery and brain. 22 Elevated levels of inflammatory mediators have been described in pathological intervertebral disc (IVD) tissue, and these levels increase with the severity of the degeneration.…”

Stress cardiomyopathy syndrome: A contemporary review

“…Reported triggers of SC include death of a family member, altercation, fear of death, divorce, fi nancial loss, surgery, acute medical illness, near drowning, electroconvulsive therapy, and natural disasters such as earthquakes [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]. Some of the cardiovascular morbidity and, possibly, mortality associated with electronic weapons, such as stun guns, may be related to SC [35].…”