Cardiomyopathy is a disease that affects the myocardium, or heart muscle. In most cases, the heart muscle weakens and is unable to adequately pump blood to the rest of the body.
Cardiomyopathy can be caused by a variety of reasons, including coronary heart disease and some medicines. Cardiomyopathy can cause irregular heartbeats, heart failure, and other consequences.
Medical attention and follow-up care are critical. They can aid in the prevention of heart failure or cardiac damage.
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF CARDIOMYOPATHY?
Cardiomyopathy is classified into four types:
- Dilated cardiomyopathy: Dilated cardiomyopathy, often known as "enlarged heart," happens when your heart muscle enlarges, or dilates, and becomes too weak to pump blood properly. It can be inherited or caused by coronary artery disease. It is the most prevalent kind of cardiomyopathy.
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which is thought to be inherited, happens when the walls of your heart thicken and prevent blood from passing through them. This causes your heart to harden and raises your chance of electrical difficulties. Long-term hypertension, age, diabetes, or thyroid illness can all lead to acquired hypertension-related cardiomyopathy. In certain cases, the root reason is unknown.
- Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD): Although this is an uncommon kind of cardiomyopathy, it is the primary cause of sudden mortality among young athletes. Fat and additional fibrous tissue replace the muscle of the right ventricle in this kind of hereditary cardiomyopathy. This results in irregular cardiac rhythms and impaired right ventricular function.
- Restrictive cardiomyopathy: Restrictive cardiomyopathy develops when the ventricles harden and are unable to relax sufficiently to fill with blood. Possible reasons include heart disease, scarring of the heart, and cardiac amyloid, which usually arises after a heart transplant.
Other types of cardiomyopathy
The majority of the following cardiomyopathies fall under one of the preceding four classes, however each has its own set of causes or complications:
- Peripartum cardiomyopathy: Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a condition that arises during or after pregnancy. This uncommon condition arises when the heart weakens within 5 months of delivery or during the last month of pregnancy. When it happens after childbirth, it is known as postpartum cardiomyopathy. This is a kind of dilated cardiomyopathy that is potentially fatal. Having it once raises your chances of having it again in the future.
- Alcoholic cardiomyopathy: Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is caused by consuming too much alcohol over time, which weakens your heart and causes it to no longer pump blood adequately. Your heart can also grow in size. This condition is a kind of dilated cardiomyopathy.
- Noncompaction cardiomyopathy: This is sometimes referred to as spongiform cardiomyopathy. It is a rare condition that manifests itself at birth and is caused by faulty cardiac muscle growth in the womb. A diagnosis can occur at any age.
- Pediatric cardiomyopathy: Pediatric cardiomyopathy occurs when cardiomyopathy affects a child.
- Ischemic cardiomyopathy: Ischemic cardiomyopathy develops when your heart no longer has the ability to pump blood to the rest of your body as a result of coronary artery disease. Blood arteries leading to the heart muscle constrict and get blocked. This prevents oxygen from reaching the cardiac muscle. Heart failure is frequently caused by ischemic cardiomyopathy. Nonischemic cardiomyopathy, on the other hand, refers to any kind of cardiomyopathy that is not caused by coronary artery disease.
- Idiopathic cardiomyopathy: Idiopathic cardiomyopathy indicates that the reason is uncertain.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF CARDIOMYOPATHY?
All kinds of cardiomyopathy have symptoms that are similar. In all situations, the heart is unable to efficiently pump blood to the body's tissues and organs. It can cause symptoms such as:
- General exhaustion and weariness
- Breathing difficulty, especially during effort or exercise
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- A bloated stomach
- Laying down and coughing
- Chest ache
- Heart palpitations
- Fainting spells
- Swelling in your feet, ankles, legs, or other regions of your body
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF CARDIOMYOPATHY?
The etiology of cardiomyopathy is frequently unknown, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. In other circumstances, the underlying reason might be inherited or acquired:
- "Inherited" refers to the fact that you were born with cardiomyopathy as a result of the genes you acquired from your parents.
- "Acquired" denotes that you obtained cardiomyopathy as a result of a health condition, disease, or other sort of ailment that occurred throughout your life, such as:
- coronary artery disease (CAD)
- heart tissue damage as a result of a heart attack
- heart muscle infections
WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS FOR CARDIOMYOPATHY?
Cardiomyopathy can strike anyone at any age. The following are major risk factors:
- A history of cardiomyopathy, abrupt cardiac arrest, or heart failure in the family
- Coronary artery disease (CAD)
- High blood pressure that lasts a long time
- Heart damage caused by a heart attack
- Infections that trigger heart inflammation
- Heart valve problems
- Sarcoidosis
- Hemochromatosis
- Amyloidosis
- Connective tissue disorders
- COVID-19 infection
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Thyroid disease
- Drinking disorder
- Cocaine or amphetamine usage
- Some cancer drugs
- Toxin exposure, such as poison or heavy metals
HIV and HIV therapies, according to a 2016 study, can potentially raise your risk of cardiomyopathy. HIV can raise your risk of heart failure, particularly dilated cardiomyopathy.
If you have HIV, talk to your doctor about undergoing frequent testing to monitor the condition of your heart. You should also strive to maintain a heart-healthy diet and exercise regimen.
HOW IS CARDIOMYOPATHY DIAGNOSED?
Your doctor or cardiologist will consider the following four factors when making a diagnosis:
- Your own medical history
- Your family's medical history
- Physical examination
- Diagnostic procedures and tests
The following diagnostic tests and procedures may be used by your doctor or cardiologist:
- Blood tests: Blood testing can reveal information about your heart while also excluding other illnesses.
- Chest X-ray: A chest X-ray may show your doctor the size and shape of your heart and lungs, as well as any fluid buildup.
- Stress test: A stress test measures how well your heart works as you exercise.
- Electrocardiogram: An electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) measures the electrical activity of your heart over a short period of time.
- Holter monitor: A Holter or event monitor can record the electrical activity of your heart for 24 or 48 hours.
- Echocardiogram: An echocardiography creates live pictures of your heart and how it beats by using sound waves.
- Heart MRI: A heart MRI captures pictures of your heart and coronary blood arteries using magnets and radio waves.
Your doctor may also do various diagnostic procedures to confirm the diagnosis, particularly if surgery is planned. Among these procedures are:
- Cardiac catheterization: A long, thin tube is put into an artery or vein and threaded up to your heart to let your doctor to assess your heart for a variety of potential disorders, including arterial blockages.
- Coronary angiography: Your doctor will inject dye into your circulation to examine the flow of blood through your arteries and heart during coronary angiography.
- Myocardial biopsy: A myocardial biopsy is a process that includes taking a tiny piece of tissue from your heart to examine under a microscope.
WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS FOR CARDIOMYOPATHY?
Treatment differs depending on how damaged your heart is as a result of cardiomyopathy and the symptoms it causes.
Some people may not require therapy until they develop symptoms. Others who are experiencing shortness of breath or chest discomfort may need to make certain lifestyle modifications or take medicines.
Cardiomyopathy cannot be reversed or cured, although it can be managed with some of the following options:
- Heart-healthy lifestyle modifications include striving for a healthy weight, attempting to quit smoking if you smoke, eating a balanced and nutritious food, reducing stress as much as possible, and receiving the recommended amount of physical exercise.
- Medications, include those intended to treat high blood pressure, avoid water retention, maintain a regular heartbeat, prevent blood clots, and reduce inflammation.
- Pacemakers and defibrillators are surgically implanted devices.
- If symptoms are severe and drugs are ineffective, bypass surgery or valve surgery may be a possibility. Septal myectomy is a less common treatment that includes removing some cardiac tissue in order to increase blood flow through the heart.
- Heart transplant is regarded as a last option.
The objective of therapy is to make your heart as efficient as possible while also preventing additional damage and loss of function.
HOW CAN CARDIOMYOPATHY BE PREVENTED?
If cardiomyopathy runs in your family, you may not be able to avoid it entirely. However, you may take efforts to maintain your heart healthy and reduce the severity of this problem.
Even if cardiomyopathy does not run in your family, you should take precautions to avoid developing a cardiac ailment or illness that might put you at risk for cardiomyopathy.
You may reduce your risk of cardiomyopathy by doing the following:
- Regular physical activity: Try to minimize your sitting time each day and aim for at least 30 minutes of activity most days of the week.
- Getting adequate rest: Sleep deprivation has been related to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night.
- Consuming a heart-healthy diet: Limit your consumption of sugary, fried, greasy, and processed meals. Instead, prioritize fruits and vegetables, healthy grains, lean meats, nuts and seeds, and low-fat dairy. Limit your salt (sodium) consumption as well, since this might increase your risk of high blood pressure.
- lowering your stress levels: When feasible, try to discover healthy strategies to reduce your stress. Take regular brisk walks, do deep breathing techniques, meditate, practice yoga, listen to music, or converse with a trusted friend.
- Quitting smoking, if you smoke: Tobacco use can harm your whole cardiovascular system, including your heart, blood, and blood vessels.
- Taking care of underlying medical issues: Control and manage any underlying health disorders that may increase your risk of cardiomyopathy in collaboration with your doctor.
WHAT IS THE LONG-TERM PROSPECT FOR CARDIOMOPATHY?
Cardiomyopathy is a potentially fatal condition that might limit your life expectancy if serious damage happens early on. The condition is also progressive, which means it worsens with time, especially if left untreated.
Treatments can help you live longer by reducing the deterioration of your heart's condition or by giving technologies that help your heart perform more efficiently.
If you have cardiomyopathy, you should undertake the following lifestyle adjustments to enhance your heart health:
- Consume a heart-healthy diet
- Keeping a healthy weight
- Giving up smoking
- Regular exercise
One of the most difficult obstacles is keeping to a regular fitness routine. Exercise can be quite exhausting for someone suffering from cardiomyopathy. Exercise, on the other hand, is critical for maintaining a healthy weight and extending the life of the heart.
Check with your doctor and start a regular workout regimen that isn't too strenuous but gets you moving every day.
The optimum sort of exercise for you will be determined by the type of cardiomyopathy you have. Your doctor can assist you in developing an exercise regimen that is both safe and beneficial for you. They may also teach you about the indications and symptoms to look out for when exercising.
CONCLUSION
Cardiomyopathy is a degenerative condition that causes the heart muscle to deteriorate. If your heart becomes too weak, it will be unable to adequately pump blood to your organs and tissues throughout your body.
Coronary artery disease, a heart attack, or any underlying health problem can all lead to cardiomyopathy. It may be hereditary in certain circumstances, which means you acquired it from your parents. In certain cases, the cause is unknown.
Cardiomyopathy is classified into numerous categories, each with its unique etiology. Dilated cardiomyopathy and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are the two most frequent forms.
Shortness of breath, weariness, and swelling in the feet, ankles, legs, belly, or neck veins are common symptoms of cardiomyopathy.
If you observe any of these symptoms, call your doctor right away. The earlier you receive therapy for this issue, the lesser your chance of heart damage and function loss.