Exercise Therapy Could Help ‘Broken Heart’ Syndrome, New Study Suggests
A European study presented at a major cardiology conference offers a hopeful signal for people who experience Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, commonly called broken-heart syndrome. In a 12-week program, 76 patients diagnosed with this temporary form of heart muscle weakness were assigned to either cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or structured exercise in addition to standard medical care. Those who trained with exercise reported higher energy levels and better capacity to perform daily activities than those receiving standard care alone, while the CBT group also showed meaningful improvements in mood and self-reported wellbeing. While researchers caution that the findings do not yet prove long-term survival benefits, the results point to a potentially powerful role for exercise-based rehabilitation in a condition historically treated primarily with medications and rest.