Top Health Tips on Living with Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy - Types, Causes and Treatment

DM Cardiology
Cardiologist, Delhi
Cardiomyopathy - Types, Causes and Treatment
Our heart is basically a muscle. So when this muscle weakens the heart is unable to do its function i.e., to pump blood throughout our body and keep us alive.

The heart muscle gets progressively weak due to a disease called cardiomyopathy.

There are different types of cardiomyopathy caused by different causes. Untreated cardiomyopathy can lead to heart failure or early death. Treatment can t cure the condition but can give you extra healthy years of life and prevent serious complications.

Cardiomyopathy has 4 main types, they are:

Dilated Cardiomyopathy: This is the most common form and its principal cause is that your heart muscle becomes too weak to pump blood. The heart muscles stretch and become thinner in this case leading to the four chambers of the heart to expand causing a pathology called an enlarged heart.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: This happens due to genetics. It occurs when the walls of your heart thicken and prevent the flow of blood through this natural pump.

Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia: This is a rare form of cardiomyopathy. It causes sudden deaths of athletes and is caused when fat and fibrous tissues replace muscle in the right ventricle of the heart.

Restrictive Cardiomyopathy: This is the least common form of the disease. The cause is the stiffening of the ventricles, the part of the blood which receives blood. When these stiffen, the heart doesn t get enough blood to oxygenate. Scarring of the heart due to heart disease and a heart transplant operation can be a cause of this stiffening.

Ischemic Cardiomyopathy: Ischemic cardiomyopathy is caused due to coronary artery disease which causes blood vessels supplying blood to the heart to become narrow. The heart doesn t get enough oxygen and a person can die due to a heart attack.

Other types of cardiomyopathy are grouped into this category and can include:

Left ventricular noncompaction happens when the left ventricle has trabeculations, projections of muscle inside the ventricle.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy, another form of the disease can occur during or after pregnancy. This is a form of dilated cardiomyopathy and can be fatal. There s no documented cause.

Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is caused due to alcoholism causing an enlargement of the heart.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, or broken heart syndrome, happens when extreme stress leads to heart muscle failure. Though rare, this condition is more common in post-menopausal women.

Treatment

Doctors will decide the treatment after finding out the extent of damage due to cardiomyopathy.

Few people will not require treatment till symptoms like chest pain, dizziness, shortness of breath and edema appear.

Others whose life is affected due to symptoms are treated with lifestyle changes and medicines. The bad news is that cardiomyopathy can t be cured but can only be managed and controlled by doing the following:

Heart-healthy lifestyle changes are key. You will be advised to maintain a healthy weight, eat a modified diet, get enough sleep, manage stress, and quit smoking.

Exercise is also crucial to keep the heart healthy and maintain a healthy weight through regular bouts of low-intensity exercise.

Medications for high blood pressure will be prescribed to prevent water retention, keep the heart beating normally, prevent blood clots and reduce inflammation.

Pacemakers and defibrillators can be implanted.

Surgery like heart transplant can be done as a last resort.
4025 people found this helpful

Cardiomyopathy - Know More!

Multi Speciality
Cardiologist, Delhi
Cardiomyopathy - Know More!
Cardiomyopathy by literal translation means disease of the muscles of the heart. As we all know, the heart is the most powerful muscular organ, which pumps out blood to various parts of the body. It expands and contracts nonstop and performs its functions. There are 3 types of cardiomyopathy:

Dilated: Where the muscles are dilated and blood flow is not sufficient to the rest of the body. Onset can be with age or in people who have prior heart conditions.
Hypertrophic: The heart muscles are enlarged either due to some disease condition or due to extra load on the heart. This is most often seen as a congenital condition.
Restrictive: There is reduced amount of contraction, leading to inadequate or improper blood flow. The heart muscles lose their elasticity and become rigid. People often develop this condition in advanced age.
Symptoms: This is not a condition that can be diagnosed with a set of symptoms. It is also not easily diagnosed in the early stages. Only as the condition worsens, symptoms begin to show up and then medical attention may be sought and diagnosis can be done. Symptoms include:

Shortness of breath
Irregular heartbeat
Lightheadedness
Chest pain
Fluid accumulation in the feet, ankles, and then the lower half of the legs
Fluid accumulation in the stomach
Inability to lie down, because of constant cough
Risk Factors: The following increases the chances of developing cardiomyopathy

Family history
Smoking
Poor food habits
Lack of exercise
Prolonged heart conditions like valve diseases or congenital problems
Long term diabetes and high blood pressure
Excessive smoking
Excessive alcohol consumption
Obesity
Thyroid disorders
Complications: While cardiomyopathy per se is not a problem, it can lead to various complications not just in the heart but the overall body.

Heart failure: A cumulative effect of cardiomyopathy is the heart failure. The heart s ability to pump out blood to the distant organs is reduced. Sudden, massive cardiac failure could even lead to death.
Blood clots: The sluggish blood flow increases the chances of forming blood clots. People diagnosed with cardiomyopathy may need to be on a small dose of blood thinners for a lifetime.
Valvular stenosis: The muscles of the heart and the valves work in synchrony, and so weakened muscles put pressure on the heart valves, leading to their narrowing.
Treatment: This includes a change of lifestyle, including exercise and dietary changes, medications, and in severe cases surgery. Advanced cases may require a heart transplant. Most cases are managed with medications and lifestyle changes though. Controlling blood pressure is very important to ensure proper heart muscle functioning.
3641 people found this helpful

Cardiomyopathy - Decoding the Types + Treatment

DHMS
Homeopathy Doctor, Mumbai
Cardiomyopathy -  Decoding the Types + Treatment
The heart muscle is the central pumping machine that ensures that blood flow throughout the body is maintained and all other organs have a regular supply. One of the conditions that can cause this organ to malfunction is cardiomyopathy, wherein the heart is unable to pump the blood to all parts of the body. This condition can even lead to heart failure and is something that needs to be addressed and diagnosed quickly.

Symptoms of Cardiomyopathy
Early stages of cardiomyopathy may be difficult to detect externally, although it may be slowly reducing your heart s capacity. Symptoms that start showing in later stages may include:

Constant fatigue, even without physical activity
Fluid may build up and thus cause bloating within the body
Persistent coughing while lying down
You may have irregular heartbeats that may sometimes be quite rapid
Due to the lack of blood supply, you may feel lightheaded, dizzy and might even cause you to faint
Even the slightest of exertions will cause breathlessness and exhaustion and you may even feel this symptom while at rest
Intermittent chest pain
Causes of Cardiomyopathy
Causes of this condition may vary from patient to patient, although certain common factors include:

Genetic reasons where one or both parents are susceptible to this condition
Metabolic problems such as obesity, diabetes or thyroid problems
Substance abuse such as anabolic steroids, amphetamines cocaine or even the consumption of excessive alcohol
High blood pressure for prolonged periods
Nutritional deficiencies
Side effects of drug treatments such as the use of certain chemicals in chemotherapy
Types of Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy has multiple types; depending on what causes them and also certain specific symptoms. These are:

Restrictive cardiomyopathy
Dilated cardiomyopathy
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Unclassified cardiomyopathies
Treatment for cardiomyopathy
The treatment of these various forms of cardiomyopathy will vary depending on the type and also the stage and condition of the heart. Some of these treatments include:

Medications
Lifestyle changes
Surgeries such as Septal myectomy, Septal ablation and Radiofrequency ablation
Implantable devices such as Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator or ICD
Ventricular assist devices
Heart transplant in the worst case scenarios
3580 people found this helpful

Cardiomyopathy - 5 Most Common Types Of It!

Multi-Speciality Clinic
Cardiologist, Hyderabad
Cardiomyopathy - 5 Most Common Types Of It!
Cardiomyopathy includes diseases involving the heart muscle. These diseases have various causes, types, symptoms and modes of treatment.

The heart muscle gets enlarged, thick or rigid. In several cases, the heart muscle tissue is replaced with a scar tissue. As this condition worsens, the heart gets weaker and the ability to pump blood is disrupted, which can cause heart failure or irregular beating of the heart. The weakened state of the heart can lead to valvar diseases.

The different types of cardiomyopathy are:

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy-
This is a common form and affects people of all ages. Men and women are affected equally. This condition arises due to the enlargement and thickening of the heart muscle. The ventricles, the septum and the lower heart chamber usually thicken, which causes obstruction in pumping of blood by the heart. This disease also causes stiffness in the ventricles, and cellular changes in the tissue.
Dilated Cardiomyopathy-
This form of cardiomyopathy develops due to the enlargement and weakening of the ventricles. The issue arises from the left ventricle and develops over time. It may even affect the right ventricle. More effort is put in by the heart muscles for pumping blood and slowly the heart is unable to pump blood effectively. This condition may lead to heart failure, valve diseases or blood clots in the heart.
Restrictive Cardiomyopathy-
This disease occurs due to the stiffening of the ventricles, without thickening of the walls of the heart. The ventricles are not allowed to relax and do not receive a sufficient volume of blood supply. This condition causes heart failure and valvar problems over time.
Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia-
This rare form of cardiomyopathy occurs when fat or fibrous tissues replace the muscle tissue of the right ventricle. This causes arrhythmias and disruption in the electrical signals of the heart. It generally affects teens and may cause cardiac arrest in athletes.
Unclassified Cardiomyopathy-
Some types of cardiomyopathy of this category include left ventricular non compaction where the ventricles develop trabeculations. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is another disease where immense stress causes failure of the heart muscles.

Treatment-
Many cases of cardiomyopathy come and go away on their own. Treatment for other cases depends on the severity and symptoms. The major treatment methods are:
Lifestyle changes meant for a healthier heart.
Medication.
Nonsurgical methods.
Surgery and implants

Modes of surgery for treatment of cardiomyopathy include:
Septal myectomy
Heart transplant
Implant devices such as Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device, Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), Left ventricular assist device and pacemakers are fitted into the heart for better performance.

Cardiomyopathy can be of many different types, each arising from different situations and conditions. The mode of treatment depends on the severity of the complication or on the basis of symptoms.
3440 people found this helpful

Cardiomyopathy: Types and Treatments

Clinical Cardiology, MD - Consultant Physician
Cardiologist, Surat
Cardiomyopathy: Types and Treatments
Cardiomyopathy includes diseases involving the heart muscle. These diseases have various causes, types, symptoms and modes of treatment.

The heart muscle gets enlarged, thick or rigid. In several cases, the heart muscle tissue is replaced with a scar tissue. As this condition worsens, the heart gets weaker and the ability to pump blood is disrupted, which can cause heart failure or irregular beating of the heart. The weakened state of the heart can lead to valvar diseases.

The different types of cardiomyopathy are:

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: This is a common form and affects people of all ages. Men and women are affected equally. This condition arises due to the enlargement and thickening of the heart muscle. The ventricles, the septum and the lower heart chamber usually thicken, which causes obstruction in pumping of blood by the heart. This disease also causes stiffness in the ventricles, and cellular changes in the tissue.
Dilated Cardiomyopathy: This form of cardiomyopathy develops due to the enlargement and weakening of the ventricles. The issue arises from the left ventricle and develops over time. It may even affect the right ventricle. More effort is put in by the heart muscles for pumping blood and slowly the heart is unable to pump blood effectively. This condition may lead to heart failure, valve diseases or blood clots in the heart.
Restrictive Cardiomyopathy: This disease occurs due to the stiffening of the ventricles, without thickening of the walls of the heart. The ventricles are not allowed to relax and do not receive a sufficient volume of blood supply. This condition causes heart failure and valvar problems over time.
Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia: This rare form of cardiomyopathy occurs when fat or fibrous tissues replace the muscle tissue of the right ventricle. This causes arrhythmias and disruption in the electrical signals of the heart. It generally affects teens and may cause cardiac arrest in athletes.
Unclassified Cardiomyopathy: Some types of cardiomyopathy of this category include left ventricular non compaction where the ventricles develop trabeculations. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is another disease where immense stress causes failure of the heart muscles.
Treatment: Many cases of cardiomyopathy come and go away on their own. Treatment for other cases depends on the severity and symptoms. The major treatment methods are:
Lifestyle changes meant for a healthier heart.

Medication.
Nonsurgical methods.
Surgery and implants
Modes of surgery for treatment of cardiomyopathy include:

Septal myectomy
Heart transplant
Implant devices such as Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device, Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), Left ventricular assist device and pacemakers are fitted into the heart for better performance.

Cardiomyopathy can be of many different types, each arising from different situations and conditions. The mode of treatment depends on the severity of the complication or on the basis of symptoms.
3291 people found this helpful

Cardiomyopathy - Tips To Help You Deal With It!

Non Invasive Services
Cardiologist, Mohali
Cardiomyopathy - Tips To Help You Deal With It!
Cardiomyopathy is a serious heart disease. It is a disease associated with the heart muscle or myocardium. In this disease, the heart muscles get weak and fails to pump blood to the organs of the body. It has several categories. The categorization depends upon the range of factors. In this disease, irregular heartbeat is observed. These irregularities can lead to heart failure or attack or can trigger problems in the valves. It is important to take care of your heart to avoid such a condition. It is also advisable to see a doctor as soon as the symptoms are noticed to avoid greater damage.

Types of Cardiomyopathy
This disease can be divided into four categories. These are as follows:

Dilated Cardiomyopathy: It is the most common type. It occurs at a time when the heart muscle gets too weak to pump blood properly. The muscles of the heart get thinner and weak. In fact, this also leads to the expansion of the heart chambers. In common terms, it is also referred to as enlarged heart. In most cases, this is inherited or caused by some coronary artery disease.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: This is genetically transferred to the patient. In this condition, the heart walls get thicker and this hinders the smooth flow of blood. It is one of the most common types of Cardiomyopathy.
Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia (ARVD): This is a very rare form. It can cause sudden death, especially in young athletes. In this disease, fat and fibrous tissues are responsible for replacing the muscles in the right ventricle. This leads to an abnormal rhythm.
Restrictive Cardiomyopathy: It occurs as the ventricles of the heart get stiff and are unable to relax. This prevents them from getting filled up with blood. Under this situation, you might have to go for a heart transplant.
Other Types: Some of the other types include Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (the one which occurs after pregnancy), Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy (happens due to excessive intake of alcohol) and Ischemic Cardiomyopathy.
Treatment of Cardiomyopathy

The treatment of Cardiomyopathy depends upon the extent of damage caused. It might not require treatment if symptoms are not very troublesome or prominent. It may be dealt with certain lifestyle changes, adjustments and medications, in cases those needs to be addressed.

Tips to deal with Cardiomyopathy
1. Maintain a healthy lifestyle by getting an adequate amount of night sleep. Go to bed early and wake up early too.
2. Don t spend long hours in watching television or work till late night
3. Eat a lot of fresh and green-leafy vegetables daily.
4. Avoid the intake of spicy, oily and fast foods.
5. Consume home-cooked food only. Avoid eating out at restaurants or street-side joints.
6. Don t drink excess coffee, tea or aerated drinks.
7. Don t consume alcohol or smoke up cigarettes.
8. Don t live a sedentary life and be a couch potato. Workout and exercise on regular basis.
9. Avoid emotional outburst and try to keep a control over your reactions.
3173 people found this helpful

Types, Causes and Treatment For Cardiomyopathy

MD - Cardiology, PG Diploma In Clinical Cardoology
Cardiologist, Rudrapur
Types, Causes and Treatment For Cardiomyopathy
Our heart is basically a muscle. So when this muscle weakens the heart is unable to do its function i.e., to pump blood throughout our body and keep us alive.

The heart muscle gets progressively weak due to a disease called cardiomyopathy.

There are different types of cardiomyopathy caused by different causes. Untreated cardiomyopathy can lead to heart failure or early death. Treatment can t cure the condition but can give you extra healthy years of life and prevent serious complications.

Cardiomyopathy has 4 main types, they are:

Dilated Cardiomyopathy: This is the most common form and its principal cause is that your heart muscle becomes too weak to pump blood. The heart muscles stretch and become thinner in this case leading to the four chambers of the heart to expand causing a pathology called an enlarged heart.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: This happens due to genetics. It occurs when the walls of your heart thicken and prevent the flow of blood through this natural pump.

Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia: This is a rare form of cardiomyopathy. It causes sudden deaths of athletes and is caused when fat and fibrous tissues replace muscle in the right ventricle of the heart.

Restrictive Cardiomyopathy: This is the least common form of the disease. The cause is the stiffening of the ventricles, the part of the blood which receives blood. When these stiffen, the heart doesn t get enough blood to oxygenate. Scarring of the heart due to heart disease and a heart transplant operation can be a cause of this stiffening.

Ischemic Cardiomyopathy: Ischemic cardiomyopathy is caused due to coronary artery disease which causes blood vessels supplying blood to the heart to become narrow. The heart doesn t get enough oxygen and a person can die due to a heart attack.

Other types of cardiomyopathy are grouped into this category and can include:

Left ventricular noncompaction happens when the left ventricle has trabeculations, projections of muscle inside the ventricle.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy, another form of the disease can occur during or after pregnancy. This is a form of dilated cardiomyopathy and can be fatal. There s no documented cause.

Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is caused due to alcoholism causing an enlargement of the heart.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, or broken heart syndrome, happens when extreme stress leads to heart muscle failure. Though rare, this condition is more common in post-menopausal women.

Treatment

Doctors will decide the treatment after finding out the extent of damage due to cardiomyopathy.

Few people will not require treatment till symptoms like chest pain, dizziness, shortness of breath and edema appear.

Others whose life is affected due to symptoms are treated with lifestyle changes and medicines. The bad news is that cardiomyopathy can t be cured but can only be managed and controlled by doing the following:

Heart-healthy lifestyle changes are key. You will be advised to maintain a healthy weight, eat a modified diet, get enough sleep, manage stress, and quit smoking.

Exercise is also crucial to keep the heart healthy and maintain a healthy weight through regular bouts of low-intensity exercise.

Medications for high blood pressure will be prescribed to prevent water retention, keep the heart beating normally, prevent blood clots and reduce inflammation.

Pacemakers and defibrillators can be implanted.

Surgery like heart transplant can be done as a last resort.
3170 people found this helpful

Cardiomyopathy - How To Take Care Of It?

MBBS, MD - General Medicine, DM - Cardiology
Cardiologist, Raipur
Cardiomyopathy - How To Take Care Of It?
Cardiomyopathy is serious heart disease. It is a disease associated with heart muscle or myocardium. In this disease, the heart muscles get weak and fail to pump blood to the organs of the body. It has several categories. The categorization depends upon the range of factors. In this disease, irregular heartbeat is observed. These irregularities can lead to heart failure or attack or can trigger problems in the valves. It is important to take care of your heart to avoid such a condition. It is also advisable to see a doctor as soon as the symptoms are noticed to avoid greater damage.

Types of Cardiomyopathy
This disease can be divided into four categories. These are as follows:

Dilated Cardiomyopathy: It is the most common type. It occurs at a time when the heart muscle gets too weak to pump blood properly. The muscles of the heart get thinner and weak. In fact, this also leads to the expansion of the heart chambers. In common terms, it is also referred to as enlarged heart. In most cases, this is inherited or caused by some coronary artery disease.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: This is genetically transferred to the patient. In this condition, the heart walls get thicker and this hinders the smooth flow of blood. It is one of the most common types of Cardiomyopathy.
Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia (ARVD): This is a very rare form. It can cause sudden death, especially in young athletes. In this disease, fat and fibrous tissues are responsible for replacing the muscles in the right ventricle. This leads to an abnormal rhythm.
Restrictive Cardiomyopathy: It occurs as the ventricles of the heart get stiff and are unable to relax. This prevents them from getting filled up with blood. Under this situation, you might have to go for a heart transplant.
Other Types: Some of the other types include Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (the one which occurs after pregnancy), Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy (happens due to excessive intake of alcohol) and Ischemic Cardiomyopathy.
Treatment of Cardiomyopathy

The treatment of Cardiomyopathy depends upon the extent of damage caused. It might not require treatment if symptoms are not very troublesome or prominent. It may be dealt with certain lifestyle changes, adjustments and medications, in cases those needs to be addressed.

Tips to deal with Cardiomyopathy
1. Maintain a healthy lifestyle by getting an adequate amount of night sleep. Go to bed early and wake up early too.
2. Don t spend long hours watching television or work till late at night
3. Eat a lot of fresh and green-leafy vegetables daily.
4. Avoid the intake of spicy, oily and fast foods.
5. Consume home-cooked food only. Avoid eating out at restaurants or street-side joints.
6. Don t drink excess coffee, tea or aerated drinks.
7. Don t consume alcohol or smoke up cigarettes.
8. Don t live a sedentary life and be a couch potato. Workout and exercise on a regular basis.
9. Avoid emotional outburst and try to keep control over your reactions.
3128 people found this helpful

Shortness in Breath - Can Your Heart Be In Danger?

MBBS, Master of Surgery - General Surgery, Magistrar Chirurgiae (Cardio-Thoracic Surgery)
Cardiologist, Faridabad
Shortness in Breath - Can Your Heart Be In Danger?
There are different types of heart problems like coronary artery disease, congenital heart failure and cardiomyopathy, but their warning signs are the same i.e. shortness of breath. This is the reason why shortness of breath should never be taken lightly and should always be investigated for heart diseases.

Why does shortness of breath happen?
You may not be able to get in enough air while experiencing shortness of breath. Known medically as dyspnea, shortness of breath is often described as an intense tightening in the chest and a feeling of suffocation. This is one of the most frightening conditions experienced by a patient. You can experience dyspnea without any serious medical problems in these conditions

After strenuous exercise
In extreme temperatures
Due to obesity and
In high altitudes
But if you are not in any of these conditions, then shortness of breath is a sign of a serious medical problem usually involving your heart or lungs. These two vital organs transport oxygen to the rest of your body and remove carbon dioxide; hence problems with either of these organs can affect your breathing. Shortness of breath that comes on suddenly called acute, can be due to other causes too like:

Asthma
Excess fluid around the heart
Low BP
Heart failure
Blood clot in an artery in the lung
Collapsed lung
Pneumonia
If you have had shortness of breath that has lasted for weeks, then we call it chronic and its causes can be various diseases of the heart apart from asthma and COPD. There is no doubt that your heart may be in trouble, if you have chronic shortness of breath. You may be suffering from these heart conditions:

Cardiomyopathy or problems with the heart muscle cause symptoms like shortness of breath after physical exertion as well as fatigue, and swelling of legs and abdomen. Patients suffering from cardiomyopathy are at risk of sudden death due to cardiac arrest.
Heart arrhythmias is also called irregular heartbeat, and can cause slow or fast heartbeats. These also have symptoms like shortness of breath. Arrhythmias can cause strokes, heart failure and cardiac arrest.
Heart failure occurs when the heart is unable to pump blood efficiently to meet the needs of the body. This is a potentially fatal condition. One of the most common symptom is shortness of breath with exercise and while lying down. Fatigue is another common symptom.
Pericarditis or swelling of membranes around the heart is also characterised by shortness of breath.
Treatment of breathlessness can start after you are referred to a heart specialist for further tests to confirm the likely cause.
2877 people found this helpful

Cardiomyopathy - Know Forms Of It!

MBBS, MD - Internal Medicine, DM- Cardiology
Cardiologist, Dehradun
Cardiomyopathy - Know Forms Of It!
Our heart is one of the most important organs that must be kept healthy and fit so that we can lead a good lifestyle, however, unfortunately, many people still suffer from heart problems. And, one such heart problem is Cardiomyopathy.

What is Cardiomyopathy?

Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscles that makes it very difficult for the heart muscles to pump blood to the rest of the body. Since the muscles are unable to pump blood effectively, it can lead to heart failure. It is a very serious condition and may require extensive treatment to fully recover from the disorder.

Different types of Cardiomyopathy

Now we will be discussing the different types of Cardiomyopathy that can affect an individual.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy - In this case, the heart muscles become abnormally thickened, particularly affecting the muscle of your heart's main pumping chamber (left ventricle). The thickened heart muscle can make it harder for the heart to work properly. Most affected people have a family history of the disease.
Dilated Cardiomyopathy - In this case, the muscles enlarge and become weak, therefore they cannot pump the blood. These weak muscles over a period of time become absolutely ineffective and can cause heart failure.
Restrictive Cardiomyopathy - In this type, the heart muscle becomes rigid and less elastic, so it is unable to relax and can't expand and fill with blood between heartbeats.Which eventually does not allow the blood to flow properly.
Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia - In this rare type of cardiomyopathy, the muscle in the lower right heart chamber (right ventricle) is replaced by scar tissue, which can lead to heart rhythm problems. It's often caused by genetic mutations. This condition can cause a sudden cardiac arrest or heart failure as well.
Symptoms

Patient may be asymptomatic in the early stages of cardiomyopathy. But as the condition advances, signs and symptoms usually appear, including:

Breathlessness with exertion or even at rest
Swelling of the legs, ankles and feet
Bloating of the abdomen due to fluid buildup
Cough while lying down
Fatigue
Heartbeats that feel rapid, pounding or fluttering
Chest discomfort or pressure-treated
Dizziness, lightheadedness and fainting
Signs and symptoms tend to get worse unless treated.

Complications

Cardiomyopathy can lead to other heart conditions, including:

Heart failure. Untreated, heart failure can be life-threatening.
Blood clots. Blood clots might form in your heart and may enter your bloodstream, then they can block the blood flow to other organs, including your heart and brain.
Valve problems. The heart valves might not close properly. This can lead to a backward flow of blood.
Cardiac arrest and sudden death. Cardiomyopathy can lead to abnormal heart rhythms which can result in fainting or, in some cases, sudden death.
Treatment

It can include medications, surgically implanted devices or, in severe cases, a heart transplant, depends on which type of cardiomyopathy you have and how serious it is.

Prevention

You can help reduce your chance of cardiomyopathy and other types of heart disease by living a heart-healthy lifestyle and making lifestyle choices such as:

Avoiding the use of alcohol or cocaine
Controlling high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes
Eating a healthy diet
Getting regular exercise
Getting enough sleep
Reducing your stress
So here are some of the most common types of Cardiomyopathy. These types can affect people of any age group if they lead an unhealthy lifestyle. Cardiomyopathy is a very serious condition and any person suffering from it should be diagnosed early and given medical treatment as soon as possible.
2641 people found this helpful