Cardiomyopathy is an abnormal condition of the heart muscle which can become enlarged, thick or in some cases is replaced by scar tissue. This condition can progress to make the heart weaker with its inability to effectively pump blood, causing irregular heartbeats and can result in heart failure. This condition varies greatly among the affected individuals with some presenting no signs or requiring no treatment while others may develop serious complications. There are different types of cardiomyopathy that can include hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, restrictive cardiomyopathy, unclassified cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle dysplasia. Cardiomyopathy can either be acquired or inherited. Acquired type usually refers to developing this condition as the result of another disease or factor and the inherited cardiomyopathy means the gene factor can be passed from the parents.
Causes
The exact cause of cardiomyopathy is not known. Some of the factors that can cause cardiomyopathy can include heart valve problem, prolonged excess consumption of alcohol, complications with pregnancy, long-term high blood pressure, various genetic conditions, obesity, thyroid disorder, diabetes, infections that affect the heart, connective tissue disorder and the excess iron accumulation in the heart (hemochromatosis).
Symptoms
In the initial stage of this condition the affected individual may not exhibit any symptoms; however, as cardiomyopathy progresses to deteriorate, it can develop weakened heart. Some of the symptoms of heart failure can consist of fatigue, shortness of breath, swelling of the ankles, legs and the abdomen. The additional symptoms can include chest pain, heart murmurs, irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias), fainting and light-headedness. In some cases, the condition can deteriorate very fast while others can take a long time to become worse.
Diagnosis
The cardiologist may evaluate the individual’s medical history, enquire about the symptoms present and the whether cardiomyopathy or heart failure runs in the family. The physician may conduct a physical examination to identify the heart problems such as listening to any unusual sound of the heart using the stethoscope and other signs such as the swelling of the ankles, feet or legs which are an indication of fluid accumulation caused by heart failure. Other diagnostic tests can include blood analysis to measure the level of iron content in the body, CT scan to determine the function and size of the heart, chest x-ray, ECG to evaluate any abnormal heart rhythm is present and stress test to assess the function of the heart when it is working hard and beating fast. Additional tests can include cardiac catheterization that examines the arteries for blockage and coronary angiography to study the blood flow in the blood vessels. As some types of cardiomyopathy are inherited, genetic testing may be beneficial in diagnosing the condition early particularly if the disease is prevalent in the family.
Treatment
Some of the individuals who present no sign or symptoms may not require any treatment. When treatment is required, it is based on the age of the individual, their health status, the type of cardiomyopathy and the complications that are associated with it. The treatment can include healthy lifestyle changes such as accommodating healthy eating habits, managing stress, maintaining a healthy weight and to stop smoking. Some of the medications can treat the condition by removing excess sodium from the body, slowing the heart rate, lowering blood pressure and reducing inflammation. In some cases, the pacemaker can control irregular heartbeat and a heart transplant may be required in the case of an end-stage heart failure.
References
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/cm/treatment
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cardiomyopathy/basics/treatment/con-20026819
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/heart/disorders/cardiomyopathy
