Cardiomyopathy is a broad term for conditions affecting the heart muscle in which the heart chamber walls have enlarged, thickened, stiffened, or filled with substances the body produces that do not belong in the heart muscle. This has an impact on the heart's ability to pump blood within the body which can lead to irregular heartbeats, and heart failure. These diseases can affect people of all ages and have many causes, symptoms, and treatments. Cardiomyopathy may be hereditary, or it may arise because of another condition, or illness. Sometimes the cause is unknown. This disorder may affect 1 in 500 adults. Cardiomyopathy can affect men and women of any age.
There are different types of cardiomyopathies:
Dilated cardiomyopathy: a common condition in which one of the heart's ventricles is enlarged. This is the most prevalent type of cardiomyopathy in children and is more prevalent in men. It can happen at any age and is either inherited or not. If you have dilated cardiomyopathy, you are at greater risk of heart failure, heart valve problems, an irregular heartbeat, and blood clots. You will need to have regular appointments with a general practitioner so the condition can be monitored.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: where the heart muscle becomes larger and thicker than normal. The thickened areas can block the ventricles (the lower chambers of the heart), making it difficult for the heart to pump blood. This can cause sudden death in adolescents and young adult athletes. This type often presents in childhood or early adulthood. A person may not exhibit any symptoms, and it is mainly an inherited disorder.
Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy: a rare condition that develops when fatty tissue replaces the normal heart muscle tissue in the right ventricle. The disease causes irregular heartbeats or rhythms. it is often inherited and more common in males than females. It can affect teenagers or young adults and has been the reason for some sudden unexplained deaths in young athletes.
Restrictive cardiomyopathy: restrictive cardiomyopathy is rare. It can develop at any age and is more frequent in children. The walls of the heart chambers become stiff. Because of this, the ventricles do not relax and do not fill with enough blood to pump to the rest of the body which can lead to symptoms of heart failure such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and ankle swelling, as well as heart rhythm problems. In many cases, the cause is unknown, although sometimes the condition can be inherited.
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, or broken heart syndrome: extreme stress causes the heart muscle to stop functioning normally, resulting in this rare illness. This disorder affects more women than men and is more common after menopause.
Some patients with cardiomyopathy never have symptoms, while others may show signs as the disease progresses. Symptoms might include the following:
Shortness of breath
Fatigue
Swelling in the ankles and legs
Irregular heartbeat or palpitations
Chest pain, especially after physical activity or heavy meals
Fainting or dizziness
If you experience any of these symptoms, visit a General Practitioner (General Practice doctor), who might refer you to a Cardiologist, for proper diagnosis and treatment to prevent further complications.
Although the cause of cardiomyopathy is sometimes unknown, certain diseases or conditions can lead to cardiomyopathy. These include the following:
A family history of cardiomyopathy, heart failure, or sudden cardiac arrest
Autoimmune disease
Coronary heart disease or a heart attack may lead to cardiomyopathy
Diseases that can damage the heart, such as hemochromatosis, sarcoidosis, or amyloidosis
Thyroid conditions
Diabetes
Infections in the heart muscle
Long-term alcoholism or cocaine abuse
Muscle conditions such as muscular dystrophy
Chemotherapy or radiation treatment for cancer
Pregnancy
Cardiomyopathy can be diagnosed using some scans and tests, such as:
Electrocardiogram
Echocardiogram
Chest X-ray and MRI scan
Heart rhythm monitor
Exercise tests
Cardiomyopathy treatment might not be able to treat your heart condition. The primary objectives of treatment include:
Controlling the symptoms
Managing any medical conditions that resulted in the cardiomyopathy
Preventing sudden cardiac arrest
Stopping the disease from getting worse
Cardiomyopathy often has no known treatment, but it is sometimes possible to manage the symptoms and avoid complications. Early diagnosis of some cardiomyopathies is crucial. Treatment is not always necessary for people with cardiomyopathy. After making a few lifestyle adjustments, some people only experience a minor degree of illness.
Lifestyle changes:
Eat a healthy diet
Quit smoking
Avoid alcohol
Lose weight if you are obese or overweight
Reduce stress
Sleep well
Medicines:
Your cardiologist may prescribe one of the following medicines:
Medicines for high blood pressure (Ex: enalapril, lisinopril, perindopril, ramipril, candesartan, irbesartan, losartan, valsartan and olmesartan, amlodipine)
Medicines to treat heart failure (Ex: digoxin)
Diuretics (Ex: indapamide, bendroflumethiazide)
Anticoagulants. (Ex: warfarin)
Beta-blockers (Ex: atenolol, bisoprolol)
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