Excessive Happiness Affects Heart Health: Happy Heart Syndrome

A woman was hospitalized due to chest pain and shortness of breath after experiencing intense happiness at her daughter's wedding. Doctors determined that this was a rare condition known as 'happy heart syndrome'. While it is known that intense sadness can negatively affect heart health, scientists are now showing that excessive happiness can have a similar impact. According to a case report published in the Oxford Medical Case Reports journal, a 65-year-old woman experienced chest pain and shortness of breath for three days after attending her daughter's wedding.Although a decrease in blood flow to the heart was detected, no blockage of the arteries that cause heart attacks was found. Instead, a structural change in the left ventricle of the heart, described as 'ballooning', was identified. Doctors diagnosed the woman with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTS), also known as 'happy heart syndrome'. According to experts, not only sadness but also extreme joy caused by events such as weddings, winning the lottery, having grandchildren, or receiving long-awaited good news can trigger this syndrome.