What is cardiomyopathy




















This term is used when the disease develops in a woman shortly before or after she gives birth. Primary cardiomyopathy. Other Names for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Asymmetric septal hypertrophy Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy Hypertrophic nonobstructive cardiomyopathy Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy Idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis Other Names for Restrictive Cardiomyopathy Idiopathic restrictive cardiomyopathy Infiltrative cardiomyopathy Other Names for Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy Right ventricular cardiomyopathy Right ventricular dysplasia.

Causes - Cardiomyopathy. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy usually is inherited. The extra iron is toxic to the body and can damage the organs, including the heart. Sarcoidosis : A disease that causes inflammation and can affect various organs in the body. Researchers believe that an abnormal immune response may cause sarcoidosis. Some cancer treatments, such as radiation and chemotherapy Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia Researchers think that arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia is an inherited disease.

Risk Factors - Cardiomyopathy. Major Risk Factors Certain diseases, conditions, or factors can raise your risk for cardiomyopathy. Major risk factors include: A family history of cardiomyopathy, heart failure , or sudden cardiac arrest SCA A disease or condition that can lead to cardiomyopathy, such as ischemic heart disease , heart attack , or a viral infection that inflames the heart muscle Diabetes or other metabolic diseases, or severe obesity Diseases that can damage the heart, such as hemochromatosis , sarcoidosis , or amyloidosis Long-term alcoholism Long-term high blood pressure Some people who have cardiomyopathy never have signs or symptoms.

Screening and Prevention - Cardiomyopathy. Your doctor may advise you to make heart-healthy lifestyle changes , such as: Avoiding the use of alcohol and illegal drugs Getting enough sleep and rest Heart-healthy eating Physical activity Quitting smoking Managing stress Your cardiomyopathy may be due to an underlying disease or condition. Get regular checkups with your doctor. Take all of your medicines as your doctor prescribes.

Signs, Symptoms, and Complications - Cardiomyopathy. These signs and symptoms include: Shortness of breath or trouble breathing, especially with physical exertion Fatigue tiredness Swelling in the ankles, feet, legs, abdomen, and veins in the neck Other signs and symptoms may include dizziness; light-headedness; fainting during physical activity; arrhythmias irregular heartbeats ; chest pain, especially after physical exertion or heavy meals; and heart murmurs.

Diagnosis - Cardiomyopathy. Specialists Involved Often, a cardiologist or pediatric cardiologist diagnoses and treats cardiomyopathy. Medical and Family Histories Your doctor will want to learn about your medical history. Physical Exam Your doctor will use a stethoscope to listen to your heart and lungs for sounds that may suggest cardiomyopathy. Diagnostic Tests Your doctor may recommend one or more of the following tests to diagnose cardiomyopathy. Blood Tests During a blood test , a small amount of blood is taken from your body.

Blood tests give your doctor information about your heart and help rule out other conditions. Chest X Ray A chest x ray takes pictures of the organs and structures inside your chest, such as your heart, lungs, and blood vessels. Holter and Event Monitors Holter and event monitors are small, portable devices.

Echocardiography Echocardiography echo is a test that uses sound waves to create a moving picture of your heart.

Stress Test Some heart problems are easier to diagnose when your heart is working hard and beating fast. Diagnostic Procedures You may have one or more medical procedures to confirm a diagnosis or to prepare for surgery if surgery is planned.

Cardiac Catheterization This procedure checks the pressure and blood flow in your heart's chambers. Coronary Angiography This procedure often is done with cardiac catheterization. Myocardial Biopsy For this procedure, your doctor removes a piece of your heart muscle.

Myocardial biopsy is useful for diagnosing some types of cardiomyopathy. Genetic Testing Some types of cardiomyopathy run in families. Treatment - Cardiomyopathy. Your doctor may prescribe medicines to: Balance electrolytes in your body.

Electrolytes are minerals that help maintain fluid levels and acid-base balance in the body. They also help muscle and nerve tissues work properly. Abnormal electrolyte levels may be a sign of dehydration lack of fluid in your body , heart failure , high blood pressure, or other disorders. Aldosterone blockers are an example of a medicine used to balance electrolytes. Keep your heart beating with a normal rhythm.

These medicines, called antiarrhythmics, help prevent arrhythmias. Lower your blood pressure. ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, beta blockers, and calcium channel blockers are examples of medicines that lower blood pressure.

Prevent blood clots from forming. Anticoagulants, or blood thinners, are an example of a medicine that prevents blood clots. Blood thinners often are used to prevent blood clots from forming in people who have dilated cardiomyopathy. Reduce inflammation. Corticosteroids are an example of a medicine used to reduce inflammation. Remove excess sodium from your body. Diuretics, or water pills, are an example of medicines that help remove excess sodium from the body, which reduces the amount of fluid in your blood.

Slow your heart rate. Beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, and digoxin are examples of medicines that slow the heart rate. Beta blockers and calcium channel blockers also are used to lower blood pressure. Septal Myectomy Septal myectomy is open-heart surgery and is used to treat people who have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and severe symptoms.

Surgically Implanted Devices Surgeons can place several types of devices in the heart to improve function and symptoms, including: Cardiac resynchronization therapy CRT device. Implantable cardioverter defibrillator ICD. An ICD helps control life-threatening arrhythmias that may lead to sudden cardiac arrest.

This small device is implanted in the chest or abdomen and connected to the heart with wires. If an ICD senses a dangerous change in heart rhythm, it will send an electric shock to the heart to restore a normal heartbeat. Left ventricular assist device LVAD. This device helps the heart pump blood to the body. An LVAD can be used as a long-term therapy or as a short-term treatment for people who are waiting for a heart transplant.

This small device is placed under the skin of your chest or abdomen to help control arrhythmias. The device uses electrical pulses to prompt the heart to beat at a normal rate. Nonsurgical Procedure Doctors may use a nonsurgical procedure called alcohol septal ablation to treat cardiomyopathy. Living With - Cardiomyopathy. Lifestyle Changes A healthy diet and physical activity are part of a heart healthy lifestyle.

Your doctor also may suggest other lifestyle changes, such as: Quitting smoking Losing excess weight Avoiding the use of alcohol and illegal drugs Getting enough sleep and rest Reducing stress Ongoing Care If you have cardiomyopathy, it's important to get ongoing care. You also should: Take all of your medicines as your doctor prescribes.

Make all of the lifestyle changes that your doctor suggests. Some people may not require treatment until symptoms appear. Others who are beginning to struggle with breathlessness or chest pain may need to make some lifestyle adjustments or take medications. The goal of treatment is to help your heart be as efficient as possible and to prevent further damage and loss of function.

Cardiomyopathy can be life-threatening and can shorten your life expectancy if severe damage occurs early on. The disease is also progressive, which means it tends to get worse over time. Treatments can prolong your life. Those with cardiomyopathy should make several lifestyle adjustments to improve heart health. These may include:. One of the biggest challenges is sticking with a regular exercise program. Exercise can be very tiring for someone with a damaged heart.

However, exercise is extremely important for maintaining a healthy weight and prolonging heart function. Read this article in Spanish. When heart pain, or discomfort near the heart that's perceived as heart pain, strikes, you want it to go away fast. These home remedies may help. High blood pressure is often associated with few or no symptoms. Many people have it for years without knowing it. Learn more. Foods that are rich in potassium, magnesium, and calcium can help lower blood pressure.

Take a look at our list and see which ones you'd like to add…. Acid reflux happens when your stomach contents rise into your esophagus. Learn which foods you should avoid to prevent reflux. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is thought to be the most common inherited or genetic heart disease.

While this type of cardiomyopathy occurs at many ages, in children and young adults with this condition there may be no symptoms, yet they are at high risk of sudden cardiac death. Although the cause of cardiomyopathy is sometimes unknown, certain diseases or conditions can lead to cardiomyopathy.

These include the following :. These might include the following:. The goal of treatment is to slow down the disease, control symptoms, and prevent sudden death. If you are diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, your doctor may tell you to change your diet and physical activity, reduce stress, avoid alcohol and other drugs, and take medicines.

Your doctor may also treat you for the conditions that led to cardiomyopathy, if they exist, or recommend surgery. Treatment also depends on which type of cardiomyopathy you have. There's also a risk of heart valve problems, an irregular heartbeat and blood clots.

You'll need to have regular appointments with a GP so the condition can be monitored. In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the heart muscle cells enlarge and the walls of the heart chambers thicken. The heart chambers are reduced in size so they cannot hold much blood, and the walls cannot relax properly and may stiffen. Also, the flow of blood through the heart may be obstructed. In most cases, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy will not have an impact on daily life.

Some people do not have any symptoms and do not need treatment. But that does not mean the condition cannot be serious. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common cause of sudden unexpected death in childhood and in young athletes. The main heart chambers can become stiff, leading to back pressure on the smaller collecting chambers.

This can sometimes worsen the symptoms of heart failure and lead to abnormal heart rhythms atrial fibrillation. Blood flow from the heart may be reduced or restricted called obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Also, the mitral heart valve can become leaky, causing blood to leak backwards.

Find out more about mitral regurgitation. You'll also be at greater risk of developing a heart infection endocarditis. These heart changes can cause dizziness, chest pain, shortness of breath and temporary loss of consciousness. If you have severe hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, you'll need to see your doctor regularly so your condition can be monitored.



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