An Israeli woman suffered a "broken heart" after accidentally eating wasabi, thinking it was avocado.
The 60-year-old suffered chest pain following the consumption and presented to an emergency department, where she was diagnosed with takotsubo cardiomyopathy, otherwise known as "broken heart syndrome".
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Researchers at Israel's Soroka University Medical Center say to the best of their knowledge, it's the first report of broken heart syndrome caused by consuming wasabi.
A case report published in BMJ says broken heart cases are usually triggered by sudden intense emotional or physical stress.
"She attended a wedding and ate a large amount of wasabi, assuming it to be an avocado," the report's abstract says.
According to NBC News, physician and report co-author Dr Alona Finkel-Oron says the woman felt pressure in her chest before being hospitalised.
"She was sure it was an avocado, that is why she took a full spoon of it.
"Of course, she was shocked to find out it was not," Dr Finkel-Oron says, according to NBC.
The American Heart Association says in most cases, broken heart syndrome is treatable and most people make a full recovery within weeks.
Newshub.
