Cardiomyopathy
What is it?
Cardiomyopathy is the term for any disease of the heart muscle that interferes with the heart's ability to pump blood. There are several forms of it: Dilated (or congestive) cardiomyopathy is weakness in the walls of the heart that causes them to balloon out, compromising the heart's efficiency and increasing the risk of congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, and the formation of blood clots (which may cause heart attacks or strokes). Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy,overgrowth or thickening of heart muscle, may compromise blood flow through the heart. Restrictive cardiomyopathy involves loss of elasticity of the heart walls that prevents the heart from adequately filling with blood prior to contracting. Except when caused by viral infections, cardiomyopathy develops slowly and may produce no symptoms until the later stages. The disorder accounts for only 1 percent of heart disease fatalities in the United States. It is one of the more common causes of serious heart disease in younger people.
What Causes It?
- In many cases of cardiomyopathy, the cause is unknown.
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy appears to run in families.
- Viral infections of the heart cause inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis) and may result in permanent damage to the muscle.
- Excess consumption of alcohol may be toxic to the heart muscle over time.
- Nutritional deficiencies (such as lack of thiamine) and hormone imbalances may damage and weaken the heart muscle.
- Amyloidosis, a disorder in which the walls of the heart are infiltrated by a waxy substance, may cause restrictive cardiomyopathy (see Amyloidosis for more information).
- The risk of developing cardiomyopathy increases with smoking, obesity, or hypertension.
- Advanced coronary artery disease may be a cause.
Prevention
- To reduce the risk of heart disease, eat a well-balanced low-fat diet, exercise regularly, and lose weight if necessary. Limit yourself to no more than two alcoholic beverages each day, and don't smoke.
Diagnosis
- Chest x-rays may be taken.
- Your doctor may perform an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasonic waves to image the structure and the movements of the heart.
- A biopsy of heart muscle may be taken.
- A coronary angiography may be performed to evaluate narrowings of the coronary arteries. In this procedure a tiny catheter is inserted into an artery in a leg or arm and threaded up to the coronary arteries. A contrast material is then injected, which provides a clear image of the blood vessels on x-ray.
How to Treat It
- Your doctor may prescribe medications to reduce heart muscle exertion, improve the heart's pumping ability, regulate the heartbeat, and ease symptoms.
- Avoid strenuous physical activity.
- Abstinence from alcohol may be necessary.
- A heart transplant may be advised if the heart muscle has been badly damaged.
When to Call a Doctor
- Symptoms of cardiomyopathy indicate late-stage disease, warranting prompt attention from a doctor.
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Copyright © 2008 Medletter Associates, LLC
Content excerpted from Johns Hopkins Symptoms and Remedies: The Complete Home Medical Reference.