CARDIOMYOPATHY

Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy, or heart muscle disease, is a type of progressive heart disease in which the heart is abnormally enlarged, thickened, and/or stiffened. As a result, the heart muscle’s ability to pump blood is less efficient, often causing heart failure and the backup of blood into the lungs or rest of the body. The disease can also cause abnormal heart rhythms.

(Opened left ventricle showing thickening, dilatation, and subendocardial fibrosis noticeable as increased whiteness of the inside of the heart)

Symptoms

There might be no signs or symptoms 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
Dizziness, lightheadedness and fainting

Signs and symptoms tend to get worse unless treated. In some people, the condition worsens quickly; in others, it might not worsen for a long time.

When to see a doctor

See your doctor if you have one or more signs or symptoms associated with cardiomyopathy. Call your doctor if you have severe difficulty breathing, fainting or chest pain that lasts for more than a few minutes.Because some types of cardiomyopathy can be hereditary, if you have it your doctor might advise that your family members be checked.

Causes

Often the cause of the cardiomyopathy is unknown. In some people, however, it’s the result of another condition (acquired) or passed on from a parent (inherited). Contributing factors for acquired cardiomyopathy include:

Long-term high blood pressure
Heart tissue damage from a heart attack
Chronic rapid heart rate
Heart valve problems
Metabolic disorders, such as obesity, thyroid disease or diabetes
Nutritional deficiencies of essential vitamins or minerals, such as thiamin (vitamin B-1)
Pregnancy complications
Drinking too much alcohol over many years
Use of cocaine, amphetamines or anabolic steroids
Use of some chemotherapy drugs and radiation to treat cancer
Certain infections, especially those that inflame the heart
Iron buildup in your heart muscle (hemochromatosis)
A condition that causes inflammation and can cause lumps of cells to grow in the heart and other organs (sarcoidosis)
A disorder that causes the buildup of abnormal proteins (amyloidosis)
Connective tissue disorders

Types of cardiomyopathy :

There are three main types of cardiomyopathy:

Dilated cardiomyopathy is when the heart’s ability to pump blood is lessened because its main pumping chamber, the left ventricle, is enlarged and weakened. In some cases, this prevents the heart from filling with blood as it should. Over time, it can affect the other chambers.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is associated with thickening of the heart muscle, most commonly at the septum between the ventricles, below the aortic valve. This leads to stiffening of the walls of the heart and abnormal aortic and mitral heart valve function, both of which may impede normal blood flow out of the heart.
Restrictive cardiomyopathy is when the walls of the lower chambers of your heart (called the ventricles) are too rigid to expand as they fill with blood.

The pumping ability of the ventricles may be normal, but it’s harder for the ventricles to get enough blood. With time, the heart can’t pump properly. This leads to heart failure.

Contributing Risk Factors:

There are a number of factors that can increase your risk of cardiomyopathy, including:

Family history of cardiomyopathy, heart failure and sudden cardiac arrest
Long-term high blood pressure
Conditions that affect the heart, including a past heart attack, coronary artery disease or an infection in the heart (ischemic cardiomyopathy)
Obesity, which makes the heart work harder
Long-term alcohol abuse
Illicit drug use, such as cocaine, amphetamines and anabolic steroids
Certain chemotherapy drugs and radiation therapy for cancer
Certain diseases, such as diabetes, an under- or overactive thyroid gland, or a disorder that causes the body to store excess iron (hemochromatosis)
Other conditions that affect the heart, such as a disorder that causes the buildup of abnormal proteins (amyloidosis), a disease that causes inflammation and can cause lumps of cells to grow in the heart and other organs (sarcoidosis), or connective tissue disorders

Possible Complications:

Cardiomyopathy can lead to other heart conditions, including:

Heart failure. Your heart can’t pump enough blood to meet your body’s needs. Untreated, heart failure can be life-threatening.
Blood clots. Because your heart can’t pump effectively, blood clots might form in your heart. If clots enter your bloodstream, they can block the blood flow to other organs, including your heart and brain.
Valve problems. Because cardiomyopathy causes the heart to enlarge, 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. These abnormal heart rhythms can result in fainting or, in some cases, sudden death if your heart stops beating effectively.

Treatment Options:

You can’t reverse or cure cardiomyopathy, but you can control it with some of the following options:

Heart-healthy lifestyle changes
Medications, including those used to treat high blood pressure, prevent water retention, keep the heart beating with a normal rhythm, prevent blood clots, and reduce inflammation
Surgically implanted devices, like pacemakers and defibrillators
Surgery
Heart transplant, which is considered a last resort

CARDIOMYOPATHY

Cardiomyopathy

Symptoms

When to see a doctor

Causes

Types of cardiomyopathy :

Contributing Risk Factors:

Possible Complications:

Treatment Options:

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CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE (CAD)

HEART RHYTHM DISORDERS (ARRHYTHMIAS)

HEART FAILURE

CARDIOMYOPATHY

HEART VALVE DISEASES

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