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'Happy heart syndrome' can kill you

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy - stress-induced chest pains and breathlessness - has been known as "broken heart syndrome". Now a new Swiss study has found it can be caused by moments of joy, such as meeting a long lost friend or attending a son's wedding.

Dr Jelena Ghadri, of University Hospital Zurich, where the study was carried out, says the discovery is a new step in understanding the disease.

(Photo:Male hand gesturing in heart shape Credit: PA)

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