When a patient suffers from cardiomyopathy (CM), his or her heart becomes enlarged. When this happens, the muscle can thicken or grow rigid. As the condition advances, there is a marked reduction in its ability to pump blood effectively. As a result, a patient might suffer an arrhythmia, heart failure, and even infection within the lining of the tissue.
Having said that, it is possible for a person to have the disease, yet not realize it. In fact, some people have CM and they do not manifest any obvious signs of the condition. Today's article will offer a brief overview of the condition. We'll describe its potential causes as well as common symptoms. We'll also explore methods of treatment which can reduce the likelihood of complications.
Possible Causes And Symptoms
There are four different types of the disease (dilated, hypertrophic, restrictive, and arrhythmogenic) and each type can be caused by different factors. Also, though most people think of this condition as being limited to older patients, it can impact children as well. In fact, the illness can be passed genetically.
Dilated cardiomyopathy is often triggered by excess alcohol consumption, inflammation from viral infections, diabetes, and certain medications, including some amphetamines. Restrictive CM can be activated by a number of disorders, such as excess iron or unusual proteins that are present in the tissue surrounding the heart. Most doctors consider arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy to be an inherited disease as opposed to being caused by other stimuli. It is not currently known what triggers hypertrophic CM.
While some people don't manifest any signs that they have the illness, others have symptoms that are severe. They are consistent with those that suggest failure of the heart muscle. For example, patients will often report feeling physically drained long before they should. If they are participating in exercise or other physical activity, they might notice a marked shortness of breath. Feeling dizzy or lightheaded is also common.
Approaches To Treatment
It's worth noting that treatment is not always necessary for cardiomyopathy, especially for those patients who don't manifest symptoms. Others do require treatment in order to control the symptoms and impede the advance of the condition. Diuretics may be used to "flush" a person's body of certain elements. In some cases of dilated CM, anticoagulants may be used to help prevent clotting of the blood. Also, doctors may recommend calcium blockers to reduce a fast heartbeat.
Depending upon the progress of the disease and the condition of the patient's heart, a doctor may suggest surgery. In severe cases where alternatives are few, a complete heart transplant may be necessary.
Patients who cope with cardiomyopathy can manage the disorder's symptoms by slimming down, reducing the amount of salt they consume, and participating in mild exercise on a regular basis. And of course, they should consult their doctor to make sure the disease remains manageable.
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