The Need to Inform the Profession, Our Patients, and the Public About “Happy Heart Syndrome”

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS), popularly known as “broken heart syndrome”, is a type of reversible but not benign acute heart failure condition of unknown etiology, usually triggered by physical or emotional stress, affecting primarily elderly women. Recently a subtype of TTS, triggered by positive/pleasant emotions, has been identified (“happy heart syndrome”) with affected patients showing the same complications, including in-hospital and long-term mortality, as the patients afflicted with the “broken heart syndrome”. There is a need to increase the awareness of physicians, other medical providers, our patients, and the general public about the existence of “happy heart syndrome”.