Why the study?
Recent research shows Takotsubo syndrome can be provoked by pleasant emotions rather than only negative stress, prompting an evaluation of the role of stressful triggers and the features of happy heart syndrome.
This review highlights that Takotsubo syndrome can be triggered by pleasant emotions ('happy heart syndrome') in addition to the classically recognized negative emotional or physical stressors.
Clinicians should consider positive emotions in Takotsubo syndrome evaluation; extends trigger spectrum but leaves open prospective validation.
Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is a condition of acute ventricular dysfunction mainly in aging women that is frequently precipitated by episodes of physical or emotional stress. The association with negative emotional triggers such as fear, grief, or interpersonal conflicts was observed soon after the first description of TTS three decades ago and led to the popular term "broken heart syndrome". However, more recent research shows that TTS can also be provoked by pleasant emotions in some patients, referred to as "happy heart syndrome". This review will discuss the role of stressful triggers in patients with TTS and their impact on the course of the disease with a particular focus on characteristic features of happy heart syndrome.
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Stiermaier et al. (2024) studied this question.
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