Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle that affects more men than women. Its meaning comes from 'cardio' meaning heart, 'myo' meaning muscle and 'pathy' meaning disease. There are 3 types of cardiomyopathy;
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). This is the most common form of cardiomyopathy.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). This is also known as hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy
Restrictive cardiomyopathy.
Dilated cardiomyopathy
In dilated cardiomyopathy one or more of the heart chambers become enlarged (dilated). The muscular walls of the heart become stretched. This causes the heart to become larger and the heart muscle weaker. The ability of the heart chambers to pump blood is diminished and less forceful.
In most cases the cause of cardiomyopathy is unknown. 1 in 5 people cases of dilated cadiomyopathy are thought to have been inherited.
Dilated cardiomyopathy can occur at any age but is most common amongst the middle aged.
Signs and Symptoms of dilated cardiomyopathy
Some people do not experience any symptoms until their cardiomyopathy is well advanced. Usual signs and symptoms of dilated cardiomyopathy include tiredness, shortness of breath, swollen ankles and abdomen, heart palpitations and dizziness and fainting during physical activity.. These may occur with or without exercise.
Signs and symptoms tend to progress over time unless the condition is treated.
Causes of dilated cardiomyopathy
Although the causes of many cases of dilated cardiomyopathy are unknown there are causes and contributory factors. These include;
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Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Tends to occurs most often in people between the ages of 20 and 40 years of age. In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy the muscular walls of the heart become thickened. This prevents the heart from filling up with blood properly and blocks the blood from being pumped from the heart.
About half of the people with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy have a family history of the disease.
Signs and symptoms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Shortness of breath, chest pains and palpitations. Those affected may often faint. Signs and symptoms tend to progress over time unless treated. Sadly sudden death is sometimes the first indication that hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was present.
Restrictive cardiomyopathy
Restrictive cardiomyopathy is a rare form of the disease. It is caused by a stiffening of the heart muscles so that it is less elastic. This interferes with the hearts ability to expand and fill the ventricles with blood. Restrictive cardiomyopathy can occur at any age but is more common in older people.
Causes are mostly unknown. Restrictive cardiomyopathy may result from abnormal proteins or cell products being deposited in the heart (amyloidosis).
Restrictive cardiomyopathy is most common in the tropics, where it's often due to scarring (fibrosis) of the heart muscle and occurs for no apparent reason.
Rare type of cardiomyopathy
There is another very rare type of cardiomyopathy called arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD). This type of cardiomyopathy is thought to be genetic. Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD) results in muscle tissue in the right ventricle being replaced by fat, triggering abnormal heart rhythms.
Treatment of cardiomyopathy
Diagnosis of cardiomyopathy is made by a physical examination from a doctor, an electrocardiogram, chest x-ray and echocardiogram. Treatment needs to be started to manage the symptoms, prevent progression of the illness and reduce the risk of complication.
Medications such as ACE inhibitors,statins, diuretics and beta blockers can help the heart work better.
Heart pacemakers are used for some people to coordinate the contractions between the left and right ventricle (biventricular pacing). Sometimes a device called a implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is used to monitor the heart beat and deliver a precise shock to the heart when required.
In advanced cases of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a surgeon may remove a portion of the thickened muscle wall (called septal myotomy-myectomy) to improve or restore a normal blood flow.
Sometimes a heart transplant may be an option.
