Breakthrough trial links exercise and cognitive therapy to recovery from Takotsubo “broken heart” syndrome
In what researchers are calling a world-first, a randomized controlled trial suggests that Takotsubo syndrome—the so-called broken heart condition—may respond significantly to two accessible therapies: tailored cognitive behavioral therapy and a structured heart-recovery exercise program. The study, involving 76 patients and unveiled at a major cardiology congress, found that both interventions improved heart energy use, physical fitness, and functional capacity over 12 weeks compared with usual care. The findings herald a potential shift in how doctors support patients after the emotional or physical stress that triggers Takotsubo, offering hope for faster recovery and better long-term outcomes.