Wedding joy: Woman's intense happiness led to a rare heart condition

Strong positive emotions can temporarily disable the heart, mimicking a heart attack. This was demonstrated in the case of a 65-year-old woman from Qatar who developed a rare subtype of stress cardiomyopathy, known as "happy heart syndrome." The condition emerged after her daughter's wedding. The woman sought medical attention reporting shortness of breath and chest pain that worsened with physical exertion. Initial electrocardiogram (ECG) and troponin blood tests—a marker for heart muscle damage—indicated ischemia or infarction. Detailed Diagnosis Reveals Unexpected Cause However, a more thorough examination revealed a different culprit: