How serious is cardiomyopathy?
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy often goes undiagnosed because many people with the disease have few, if any, symptoms and can lead normal lives with no significant problems. However, in a small number of people with HCM , the thickened heart muscle can cause shortness of breath, chest pain or problems in the heart's electrical system, resulting in life-threatening abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) or sudden death.
What does cardiomyopathy feel like?
The symptoms experienced at the onset of stress cardiomyopathy mimic those of a heart attack, including the following. Chest pain: This is the most common symptom. This is classically felt in the area surrounding the heart (from the breastbone to the left chest), though pain radiating to the neck or arm is also commonly reported.
How does cardiomyopathy affect the body?
- Changes in heart rhythm
- Fever
- Shortness of breath
- Tiredness
How to diagnosis cardiomyopathy?
Tests
- Echocardiogram. An echocardiogram is commonly used to diagnose hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. ...
- Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). Sensors (electrodes) attached to adhesive pads are placed on your chest and sometimes legs. ...
- Cardiac MRI. A cardiac MRI uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create images of your heart. ...
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What is the main cause of cardiomyopathy?
The most common cause is coronary artery disease or heart attack. However, it can also be caused by genetic changes. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This type involves abnormal thickening of the heart muscle, which makes it harder for the heart to work.
What is the difference between cardiomyopathy and heart disease?
The most common causes are cardiomyopathy, which means weakness of the heart muscle not resulting from another cardiac diagnosis, and coronary artery disease, which causes irreversible damage to the heart muscle and has usually been preceded by a myocardial infarction (heart attack), although these often occur silently ...
Is a cardiomyopathy a heart attack?
The lack of blood flow through the blocked arteries results in heart muscle dying — hence the name "heart attack." However, there is another form of heart attack called takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Over the past few years, physicians have come to recognize and better understand this form of heart attack.
Can you recover from cardiomyopathy?
It mostly occurs following severe emotional or physical stress. The condition is temporary and most people recover within two months.
How long do people with cardiomyopathy live?
In general, about half of all people diagnosed with congestive heart failure will survive 5 years. About 30% will survive for 10 years. In patients who receive a heart transplant, about 21% of patients are alive 20 years later.
What is the most common treatment for cardiomyopathy?
Treatment options for cardiomyopathyLifestyle changes. Stopping alcohol use. Monitoring salt intake.Medicines. Lower blood pressure. ... Surgically implanted device that helps maintain proper heart rhythm.Ablation procedure. Removes extra heart tissue to reduce thickening. ... Heart transplant (for a severely damaged heart)
Who is most at risk for cardiomyopathy?
As many as 1 of 500 adults may have this condition. Males and females of all ages and races can have cardiomyopathy. Dilated cardiomyopathy is more common in blacks than in whites and in males than in females. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is thought to be the most common inherited or genetic heart disease.
Can you live a full life with cardiomyopathy?
With proper care, many people can live long and full lives with a cardiomyopathy diagnosis. When recommending treatment, we always consider the least invasive approach first. Options range from lifestyle support and medications to implantable devices, procedures, and surgeries.
Can you beat cardiomyopathy?
Is there a cure for cardiomyopathy? There is no cure for cardiomyopathy. However, you can control the condition or slow its progression. People who make healthy lifestyle choices and seek medical treatment can live a high quality of life with cardiomyopathy.
What 3 things can you do to avoid cardiomyopathy?
AdvertisementDon't smoke or use tobacco. One of the best things you can do for your heart is to stop smoking or using smokeless tobacco. ... Get moving: Aim for at least 30 to 60 minutes of activity daily. ... Eat a heart-healthy diet. ... Maintain a healthy weight. ... Get good quality sleep. ... Manage stress. ... Get regular health screenings.
What is the test for cardiomyopathy?
Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG): An EKG records the heart's electrical activity, showing how fast the heart is beating and whether its rhythm is steady or irregular. An EKG can detect cardiomyopathy as well as other problems, including heart attacks, arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeats) and heart failure.
What should you not do with cardiomyopathy?
Avoiding alcohol and illegal drugs. Getting enough sleep and rest. Reducing stress. Treating underlying conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
Is cardiomyopathy a serious heart condition?
Cardiomyopathy is a serious condition. Without treatment, it can be life-threatening. Cardiomyopathy is also a progressive condition, meaning it usually worsens over time.
What are the 3 types of cardiomyopathy?
The main types of cardiomyopathy include the following1-4:Dilated: where one of the pumping chambers (ventricles) of the heart is enlarged. ... Hypertrophic: where the heart muscle is thickened. ... Arrhythmogenic: where the disease causes irregular heartbeats or rhythms.More items...
How serious is getting a defibrillator?
There is about a 1-2% risk of stroke, heart attack, death, damage to the heart or lungs requiring surgery, including puncturing the heart but this risk may vary based on the patient's condition.
How long can you live with heart transplant?
Outlook for heart transplants Overall: 80 to 90 in every 100 people will live at least a year. 70 to 75 in every 100 people will live at least 5 years. 50 in every 100 people will live at least 10 years.
When does cardiomyopathy occur?
Most of the following types of cardiomyopathy belong to one of the previous four classifications, but each has unique causes or complications. Peripartum cardiomyopathy occurs during or after pregnancy. This rare type occurs when the heart weakens within five months of delivery or within the final month of pregnancy.
How does cardiomyopathy affect your life?
Cardiomyopathy can be life-threatening and can shorten your life expectancy if severe damage occurs early on. The disease is also progressive, which means it tends to get worse over time. Treatments can prolong your life. They can do this by slowing the decline of your heart’s condition or by providing technologies to help your heart do its job.
What is the term for a heart muscle that is too weak to pump blood?
Dilated cardiomyopathy. The most common form, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), occurs when your heart muscle is too weak to pump blood efficiently. The muscles stretch and become thinner. This allows the chambers of your heart to expand. This is also known as enlarged heart.
What is the term for a progressive disease of the heart muscle?
Cardiomyopathy is a progressive disease of the myocardium, or heart muscle. In most cases, the heart muscle weakens and is unable to pump blood to the rest of the body as well as it should. There are many different types of cardiomyopathy caused by a range of factors, from coronary heart disease to certain drugs.
What is the term for a condition where blood is not flowing through the heart?
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is believed to be genetic. It occurs when your heart walls thicken and prevent blood from flowing through your heart. It’s a fairly common type of cardiomyopathy. It can also be caused by long-term high blood pressure or aging.
What are the risks of cardiomyopathy?
Cardiomyopathy can affect people of all ages. Major risk factors include the following: 1 a family history of cardiomyopathy, sudden cardiac arrest, or heart failure 2 coronary heart disease 3 diabetes 4 severe obesity 5 sarcoidosis 6 hemochromatosis 7 amyloidosis 8 heart attack 9 long-term high blood pressure 10 alcoholism
Why does alcohol cause cardiomyopathy?
Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is due to drinking too much alcohol over a long period of time, which can weaken your heart so it can no longer pump blood efficiently. Your heart then becomes enlarged. This is a form of dilated cardiomyopathy.
What happens when cardiomyopathy occurs?
When cardiomyopathy occurs, the normal muscle in the heart can thicken, stiffen, thin out, or fill with substances the body produces that do not belong in the heart muscle. As a result, the heart muscle’s ability to pump blood is reduced, which can lead to irregular heartbeats, the backup of blood into the lungs or rest of the body, ...
How common is cardiomyopathy?
Cardiomyopathy often goes undiagnosed, 5 so the numbers can vary. As many as 1 of 500 adults may have this condition. 6,7 Males and females of all ages and races can have cardiomyopathy. Dilated cardiomyopathy is more common in blacks than in whites and in males than in females. 5
What are the different types of cardiomyopathy?
The main types of cardiomyopathy include the following 1-4: 1 Dilated: where one of the pumping chambers (ventricles) of the heart is enlarged. This is more common in males and is the most common form of cardiomyopathy in children. It can occur at any age and may or may not be inherited. 2 Hypertrophic: where the heart muscle is thickened. This often presents in childhood or early adulthood and can cause sudden death in adolescents and young adult athletes. 1 It is often an inherited condition, and a person may not have any symptoms. If there is a family history of this, other family members can be tested and adjust their activities to reduce the risk of sudden death. 3 Arrhythmogenic: where the disease causes irregular heartbeats or rhythms. This is often inherited and more common in males. 4 Restrictive: where heart muscle is stiff or scarred, or both. It can occur with amyloidosis or hemochromatosis, and other conditions. This is the least common type.
What is hypertrophic heart disease?
Hypertrophic: where the heart muscle is thickened. This often presents in childhood or early adulthood and can cause sudden death in adolescents and young adult athletes. 1 It is often an inherited condition, and a person may not have any symptoms. If there is a family history of this, other family members can be tested and adjust their activities to reduce the risk of sudden death.
What is the medical term for fainting or briefly passing out?
Syncope, the medical term for fainting or briefly passing out.
What is a family history of cardiomyopathy?
A family history of cardiomyopathy, heart failure or sudden cardiac arrest. Connective tissue disease and other types of autoimmune disease. Coronary heart disease or a heart attack. Diseases that can damage the heart, such as hemochromatosis, sarcoidosis or amyloidosis.
Can cardiomyopathy be acquired?
Cardiomyopathy can be acquired—developed because of another disease, condition, or factor—or inherited. The cause isn’t always known. The main types of cardiomyopathy include the following 1-4: Dilated: where one of the pumping chambers (ventricles) of the heart is enlarged. This is more common in males and is the most common form ...
What is cardiomyopathy?
Cardiomyopathy refers to diseases of the heart muscle. These diseases have many causes, signs and symptoms, and treatments.
How common is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy affects men and women equally, and about 1 out of every 500 people has the disease.
What is the name of the condition where the muscle in the right ventricle is replaced with fatty or fibrous?
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia is a rare type of cardiomyopathy that occurs when the muscle tissue in the right ventricle is replaced with fatty or fibrous tissue. This can lead to disruptions in the heart’s electrical signals and causes arrhythmias. Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia usually affects teens or young adults and can cause sudden cardiac arrest in young athletes.
What happens when cardiomyopathy worsens?
As cardiomyopathy worsens, the heart becomes weaker. It's less able to pump blood through the body and maintain a normal electrical rhythm. This can lead to heart failure or irregular heartbeats called arrhythmias. In turn, heart failure can cause fluid to build up in the lungs, ankles, feet, legs, or abdomen.
What is a pediatric cardiologist?
Often, a cardiologist or pediatric cardiologist diagnoses and treats cardiomyopathy. A cardiologist specializes in diagnosing and treating heart diseases. A pediatric cardiologist is a cardiologist who treats children.
Can cardiomyopathy be caused by a child?
Many times, the cause of cardiomyopathy isn’t known. This often is the case when the disease occurs in children.
Is cardiomyopathy inherited?
Cardiomyopathy can be acquired or inherited. "Acquired" means you aren't born with the disease, but you develop it due to another disease, condition, or factor. "Inherited" means your parents passed the gene for the disease on to you. Many times, the cause of cardiomyopathy isn't known.
What are the two categories of cardiomyopathy?
Healthcare professionals may categorize cardiomyopathy based on the general cause. These two categories are: Ischemic cardiomyopathy, caused by heart attacks or coronary artery disease (CAD). Non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, types unrelated to CAD. Sometimes, experts don't know the cause of cardiomyopathy (idiopathic).
How many people have cardiomyopathy?
About 1 in 500 adults have cardiomyopathy. Some types of cardiomyopathy are more likely in some people than in others. For example, dilated cardiomyopathy is more common in Black people. Dilated and arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy are more likely in males.
How can cardiomyopathy improve your life?
If you have cardiomyopathy, seek treatment from a cardiologist (heart specialist). Medication, surgery or other treatments can increase your quality of life and help you live longer.
What are the diseases that affect the heart?
Autoimmune diseases, such as connective tissue diseases. Conditions that damage the heart, such as high cholesterol diseases, hemochromatosis or sarcoidosis. Endocrine conditions, such as diabetes or thyroid disease. Family history of heart failure, cardiomyopathy or sudden cardiac arrest. Previous heart attacks.
What is the term for the condition where the heart is weak?
Cardiomyopathy refers to conditions that affect the myocardium (heart muscle). Cardiomyopathy can make your heart stiffen, enlarged or thickened and can cause scar tissue. As a result, your heart can’t pump blood effectively to the rest of your body. In time, your heart can weaken and cardiomyopathy can lead to heart failure.
Can cardiomyopathy cause shortness of breath?
If you have cardiomyopathy, your heart can’t efficiently pump blood to the rest of your body. As a result, you may experience fatigue, shortness of breath or heart palpitations. Cardiomyopathy gets worse over time. Treatment can slow the progression and improve your quality of life. Appointments 800.659.7822.
Is cardiomyopathy a disease?
Cardiomyopathy refers to diseases of your heart muscle. There are many types of cardiomyopathy. Some are inherited. Others develop from underlying conditions such as coronary artery disease. Treatment for cardiomyopathy may include medications, lifestyle changes or surgery. Although there is no cure for cardiomyopathy, you can manage the condition. People who receive treatment can live a high quality of life with cardiomyopathy.
What is cardiomyopathy?
Any disorder that affects the heart muscle is called a cardiomyopathy. Cardiomyopathy causes the heart to lose its ability to pump blood well. In some cases, the heart rhythm also becomes disturbed. This leads to arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats). There are many causes of cardiomyopathy, including:
Why does cardiomyopathy occur?
Dilated cardiomyopathy can be caused by chronic, heavy alcohol use and nutritional deficiencies tied to alcoholism. It sometimes occurs as a complication of pregnancy and childbirth. Other possible causes include: alcohol abuse, infections, and illicit drugs. Rarely, it is inherited.
How does cardiomyopathy differ from other heart disorders?
Cardiomyopathy differs from many of the other disorders of the heart in several ways, including:
What is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy occurs when the muscle of the left ventricle thickens. This can block blood flow to the rest of the body. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can affect the heart's mitral valve, causing blood to leak backward through the valve.
What is the rarest type of cardiomyopathy?
ARVD is a rare type of cardiomyopathy that occurs if the muscle tissue in the right ventricle dies and is replaced by fat or scar tissue:
Why do people get transplanted with dilated cardiomyopathy?
Dilated cardiomyopathy is a leading cause for a heart transplant. It is often the result of gradual changes of heart structure over time.
Which form of cardiomyopathy is the most frequent?
Dilated cardiomyopathy is the most frequent form of cardiomyopathy. The cavity of the heart is enlarged and stretched, compromising the heart's ability to pump normally and relax appropriately:
How to diagnose cardiomyopathy?
The diagnosis of cardiomyopathy is often clear from an individual's descriptions of his or her symptoms, the results of a physical examination, and the results of a chest x-ray, echocardiogram, and electrocardiogram.
How to treat hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
Usually this requires taking a beta blocker or calcium channel blocker. A medication to prevent abnormal heart rhythms may also be needed.
What is the term for the invasion of the heart muscle by abnormal cells?
invasion of heart muscle by abnormal cells or other material (restrictive cardiomyopathy). an inherited condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy which causes a thickening of the heart muscle, especially the wall between the two ventricles.
What is the term for a heart disease that causes a heart muscle to weaken?
Any heart disease in which the heart muscle (myocardium) weakens can be known as cardiomyopathy . This broad term covers many conditions, all of which result in injury to the heart muscle and impaired heart function. Cardiomyopathy often leads to heart failure.
Why is myocarditis dangerous?
Cardiomyopathy can be caused by: myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, often due to a viral infection or a chronic inflammatory condition such as lupus.
What is the test called for a heart biopsy?
Occasionally, a test called an endomyocardial biopsy is necessary. In this test, a catheter is inserted into a vein in the neck and passed down into the heart. A small piece of the inner heart wall is removed using a tiny metal device at the tip of the catheter.
What is the term for the accumulation of cholesterol-filled plaque in the arteries that nourish the heart?
coronary artery disease, the accumulation of cholesterol-filled plaque in the arteries that nourish the heart. It can weaken the heart muscle by reducing blood flow to much of the heart.
What is cardiomyopathy in adults?
Cardiomyopathy refers to diseases of the heart muscle. These diseases have many causes, signs and symptoms as well as treatments. In most cases, cardiomyopathy causes the heart muscle to become enlarged, thick or rigid. In rare instances, diseased heart muscle tissue is replaced with scar tissue.
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How Common Is Cardiomyopathy?
Causes
Symptoms
Treatment and Prevention
Pediatric Cardiomyopathy
- Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle that worsens over time and can be life-threate…
Cardiomyopathy can result from an inherited genetic feature or it can stem from one of many health conditions, such as heart disease, hyperthyroidism, or alcohol use. - Symptoms include weakness, dizziness, shortness of breath, high blood pressure, and fluid rete…
Treatment options for cardiomyopathy include lifestyle changes, medications, and surgery.
Additional Resources
References