Cardiomyopathy is a heart condition affecting the heart muscle (myocardium), causing it to weaken and be unable to pump blood. The condition may cause the heart to thicken, enlarge or stiffen making it less efficient in its work. Obviously, any condition which affects the heart can have a serious impact on people’s lives.
If the condition prolongs and the heart muscle becomes too weak, one can suffer from heart failure. Those suffering from mild forms of cardiomyopathy can lead normal lives, but those with severe cases leading to heart failure need to undergo heart transplants before heart failure can occur. This article will focus on different aspects of cardiomyopathy. Learning more about a condition can only help to try and prevent it from causing serious issues throughout life.
Types of Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy can be classified into four categories, namely:
- Dilated Cardiomyopathy - Dilated Cardiomyopathy is characterized by the heart’s left ventricle becoming dilated, hindering its ability to pump blood out of the heart. The left ventricle is usually the main blood pumping chamber. This condition is prevalent in men. However, it can affect all ages, specifically the middle age group. Its common cause is a heart attack or coronary artery disease; genetic defects can also contribute.
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. - This type of cardiomyopathy is characterized by uncontrolled thickening of the heart muscles, making it difficult to pump blood. It mainly affects the left ventricle. This condition is known to appear at any age, but its most severe occurrence is during childhood. This condition is mainly associated with a family history or genetic mutations.
- Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia(ARVD) - This rare type of cardiomyopathy appears when the heart’s muscle tissue gets replaced with scar tissue. This occurrence disrupts the heart’s electrical signals, thus causing irregular heartbeats. Some of the common symptoms include fainting after strenuous exercise or palpitations.
- Restrictive cardiomyopathy - In this heart condition, the heart muscle hardens and stiffens up, causing it to lose efficiency and ability to contract and expand to fill blood between the heartbeats. It's mostly prevalent in older people but can occur at any age. Restrictive cardiomyopathy can result from an unknown source(idiopathic) or can be caused by underlying conditions within the body, for example, amyloidosis.
Causes of Cardiomyopathy
In most cases, the causes for Cardiomyopathy are unknown. However, it has been noted that the condition arises in different people either from an acquired condition or inherited from a parent. The known and identified conditions which can lead one to acquire Cardiomyopathy are:
- Prolonged rapid heart rate.
- Existing heart valve problems.
- Existing heart tissue damage.
- Pregnancy complications.
- Deficiency of mineral and vitamins B-1
- Metabolic disorders such as diabetes, obesity, and thyroid disease.
- Existing Connective tissue disorders
- Growth of inflammatory cells within the body.
- Accumulation of iron in the heart muscle.
- Prolonged high blood pressure.
Signs and Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of all types of cardiomyopathy are usually identical. The base factor is that the heart is unable to effectively pump blood to other parts of the body. The possible symptoms are:
- Chest pains
- Heart palpitations
- Weakness and fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- High blood pressure
- Bloated abdomen
- Possible swelling of the legs
Getting Treatment
Cardiomyopathy treatment is aimed at controlling the symptoms and slowing down the spread. Medications are used to improve blood circulation and treat the underlying conditions. For such, the doctor can prescribe blood thinners and medications that lower cholesterol.
To correct irregular heartbeats, devices such as implantable cardioverters defibrillators (ICDCS) and pacemakers can be used. They operate by monitoring your heartbeat and sending electrical impulses to the heart when arrhythmia kicks in.
To improve blood flow, devices such as cardiac resynchronization therapy(CRT) machines help control heart contractions between the ventricles, thus making blood pumping more efficient. Additionally, a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) can aid the heart in pumping blood.
Surgery is usually recommended for severe cases of heart failure or underlying heart conditions. The common types of heart surgery usually recommended by health providers are open-heart surgery or heart transplant if other treatment methods are failing.
Leading a smoke-free life with limited alcohol will go a long way in preventing heart conditions that can lead to heart failure in the long run. Whenever we feel and experience any of the highlighted signs and symptoms, it’s advisable to seek a cardiologist for proper examination.