Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle. It is a serious
disease in which the heart muscle becomes inflamed and does not
work as well as it should. In some instances, heart rhythm is disturbed,
leading to irregular heartbeats or
arrhythmias.
What are the symptoms of Cardiomyopathy?
- Dizziness
- Lightheadedness
- Palpitations, sensation of feeling the heart beat
- Fainting
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Decreasing ability to tolerate physical exertion
Additional Symptoms That May Occur:
- Loss of appetite
- Decreased alertness
- Cough
- Decreased amount of urine
- Swelling of legs, ankles or other parts of the body
- Abdominal swelling or enlargement
- Change in mental status
- Fatigue
- Deconditioning may occur as an effect of the other symptoms,
leading to a reduction in the heart's muscle mass
- Difficulty concentrating
What are the types of cardiomyopathy?
- Dilated Cardiomyopathy is an extensive, usually idiopathic
(unknown cause) heart muscle disorder characterized by a significant
enlargement and inadequate function of the left ventricle. (Left
bottom chamber of the heart)
- Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy is a type of dilated cardiomyopathy
that usually begins about ten years after sustained, heavy alcohol
consumption. It may give typical signs of heart failure, but
also with atrial fibrillation or other heart rhythm problems.
- Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy is a disproportionate
growth of the left muscle ventricle (bottom left chamber of
the heart). Occasionally, the right ventricle is affected. The
growth and arrangement of muscle fibers are abnormal, leading
to thickened heart walls. The thickening reduces the size of
the pumping chamber and obstructs blood flow. It also prevents
the heart from properly relaxing between beats and filling with
blood. Ultimately, limiting the pumping action.
- Restrictive Cardiomyopathy is a disorder affecting
the diastolic function of the heart. The walls of the ventricles
stiffen and lose their flexibility due to infiltration by abnormal
tissue. Therefore, the heart cannot fill adequately with blood
and eventually loses its ability to pump properly.
- Peripartum Cardiomyopathy is a dilated cardiomyopathy
appearing in woman during the last trimester of pregnancy, or
after childbirth.
- Postpartum Cardiomyopathy is a dilated cardiomyopathy
appearing in women after pregnancy or childbirth.
What tests or signs reveal cardiomyopathy?
An examination by a physician may expose abnormal heart and breath
sounds or an irregular heartbeat.
The following tests may be performed to detect decreased heart
functions or heart enlargements:
To assess the condition and rule out other disorders of the heart,
the following lab tests may be performed:
- Complete Blood Count (CBC)
- Blood Chemistries
- Cardiac Enzymes
- Coronary Risk Profile
What is the treatment for cardiomyopathy?
Each case of cardiomyopathy may not result in heart failure. Cardiomyopathy
that results in heart failure
needs to be treated with a combination of
dietary changes, medications,
and patient education.
Treatments include:
- Diuretics help relieve the fluid overloads in the
heart.
- Vasodilators dilate vessels at several levels to
reduce the workload for the heart.
- ACE-Inhibitors act as vasodilators and help restore
the hormonal balance.
- Other drugs include beta-blockers, calcium channel
blockers, antiarrhythmic drugs, angiotensin II receptor blockers,
and anticoagulants.
- Heart transplantation may be required for advanced,
sever heart failure.
- Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) is a treatment
that provides mechanical circulatory support. Biventricular
pacing is a pacemaker lead inserted into each ventricle to help
the heart contract better.
- Dynamic Cardiomyoplasty is a procedure where a skeletal
muscle flap (Created from the patient's thoracic muscle) is
trained to contract often and wrap around the heart to help
it contract
