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What is Cardiomyopathy?
Most of the time, the cause of the cardiomyopathy is unknown. In some people, however, doctors are able to identify some contributing factors. Possible causes of cardiomyopathy include: Long-term high blood pressure; Heart valve problems; Heart tissue damage from a previous heart attack; Chronic rapid heart rate; Metabolic disorders, such as thyroid disease or diabetes; Nutritional deficiencies of essential vitamins or minerals, such as thiamin (vitamin B-1), selenium, calcium and magnesium; Pregnancy; Excessive use of alcohol over many years; Abuse of cocaine or antidepressant medications, such as tricyclic antidepressants; Use of some chemotherapy drugs to treat cancer; Certain viral infections,...
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Also known as Cardiomyopathies, Myocardial Disease, Primary Cardiomyopathy, Secondary Cardiomyopathy, Myocardiopathy, Myocardial Diseases, Primary Myocardial Disease
Cardiomyopathy information from trusted sources:
Cardiomyopathy and Pregnancy
A primary abnormality of the heart muscle is called a cardiomyopathy (from the ... It's called peripartum cardiomyopathy and occurs in the last trimester of ... Read more on
www.womensheart.org
Cardiomyopathy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cardiomyopathy, which literally means "heart muscle disease," is the deterioration of the function of the myocardium (i.e., the actual heart muscle) for any ... Read more on
en.wikipedia.org
Heart Disease: Dilated Cardiomyopathy on MedicineNet.com
Nov 28, 2010 ... Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) can be inherited,but it is primarily caused by: Severe coronary artery disease, Alcoholism, thyroid disease, ... Read more on
www.medicinenet.com
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy — Diagnosis and Treatment at Mayo Clinic
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy Read about diagnosis, treatment of this heart condition at Mayo Clinic. Read more on
www.mayoclinic.org
Primary Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy (cardio=heart +myo=muscle + pathy=disease/abnormality) is diseased heart muscle that cannot function (contract) adequately. Cardiomyopathy results in the failure of the heart muscle to meet the needs of the body for oxygen rich blood and removal of carbon dioxide and other waste products. There are many causes of cardiomyopathy, but the end result is a heart that is weak and cannot maintain a normal ejection fraction or cardiac output. Read more on
www.emedicinehealth.com
Dilated Cardiomyopathy - Texas Heart Institute Heart Information ...
Heart disease that damages the muscle tissue that makes up the heart's pumping chambers. Read more on
www.texasheart.org
Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy refers to diseases of the heart muscle. These diseases enlarge your heart muscle or make it thicker and more rigid than normal. In rare cases, scar tissue replaces the muscle tissue. Some people live long, healthy lives with cardiomyopathy. Some people don't even realize they have it. In others, however, it can make the heart less able to pump blood through the body. This can cause serious complications, including Read more on
www.nlm.nih.gov
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Jan 1, 2009 ... Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Online Medical Reference - covers disease from diagnosis through treatment options. Co-authored by Michael S. ... Read more on
www.clevelandclinicmeded.com
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy - MayoClinic.com
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy — Comprehensive overview covers symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of this heart disorder. Read more on
www.mayoclinic.com
Cardiomyopathy, Restrictive: eMedicine Emergency Medicine
Jul 3, 2008 ... Overview: Restrictive cardiomyopathy is the least common of the 3 clinically recognized and described cardiomyopathies. Read more on
emedicine.medscape.com
Contents
Complications
Having cardiomyopathy may produce the following complications: Heart failure. Heart failure means your heart can't pump enough blood to meet your body's needs. The thickened, stiffened or weakened heart muscle due to cardiomyopathy can become unable to pump or can obstruct blood flow out of the heart. Blood clots. Any of the types of cardiomyopathy may make you more susceptible to blood clots in your heart. If clots are pumped out of the heart and enter your circulatory system, they can block the blood flow to vital organs, including your heart and brain. If clots develop on the right side of your heart, they may travel to your lungs. To reduce your risk, your doctor may prescribe a blood...
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www.mayoclinic.com
Lifestyle and home remedies
Your doctor may recommend adopting the following lifestyle changes to help you manage cardiomyopathy: Quit smoking.; Lose excess weight.; Eat a low-salt diet (less than 2,300 milligrams a day).; Get modest exercise, after discussing with your doctor the most appropriate program of physical activity.; Eliminate or minimize the amount of alcohol you drink. Specific recommendations will depend on the type of cardiomyopathy you have.
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Medical advice
See your doctor if you have one or more of the signs and symptoms associated with cardiomyopathy. Call 911 or your local emergency number if you experience severe difficulty breathing, fainting or chest pain that lasts for more than a few minutes. Because the condition is sometimes hereditary, your doctor may advise that your family members be examined for cardiomyopathy.
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www.mayoclinic.com
Outlook (Prognosis)
The outlook depends on many different things, including:Severity of the heart problem; Type of cardiomyopathy; Cause of the cardiomyopathy; How well you respond to treatment
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www.nlm.nih.gov
Prevention
In most cases you can't prevent cardiomyopathy. Let your doctor know if you have a family history of the condition. If cardiomyopathy is diagnosed early, treatments may prevent the disease from worsening.
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www.mayoclinic.com
Symptoms
Some people who develop cardiomyopathy may have no signs and symptoms in the early stages of the disease. But as the condition advances, signs and symptoms usually appear. Signs and symptoms of cardiomyopathy may include: Breathlessness with exertion or even at rest; Swelling of the legs, ankles and feet; Bloating (distention) of the abdomen with fluid; Fatigue; Irregular heartbeats that feel rapid, pounding or fluttering; Dizziness, lightheadedness and fainting
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Tests and diagnosis
Your doctor will conduct a physical examination, take a personal and family medical history, and ask when your symptoms occur for example, whether exercise brings on your symptoms. If your doctor thinks you have cardiomyopathy, you may need to undergo several tests to confirm the diagnosis. These tests may include: Chest X-ray. An image of your heart will show whether it's enlarged. Echocardiogram. An echocardiogram uses sound waves to produce images of the heart. Your doctor can use these images to examine the size of your heart and its motions as it beats. Electrocardiogram (ECG). In this noninvasive test, electrode patches are attached to your skin to measure electrical impulses from...
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www.mayoclinic.com
Treatments and drugs
The overall goals of treatment for cardiomyopathy are to manage your signs and symptoms, prevent your condition from worsening, and reduce your risk of complications. Treatment varies by which of the major types of cardiomyopathy you have.
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www.mayoclinic.com