Cardiomyopathy is a group of diseases that affect the heart muscle and cause it to enlarge and stiffen. It is often hereditary. The main types are dilated, hypertrophic, restrictive, and arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. Symptoms of heart failure often occur as the condition worsens and weakens the heart. Treatment depends on severity but may include medications, surgery like implantable devices or transplant, or lifestyle changes. Family history and other conditions increasing risk. Diagnosis involves medical history, exams, and tests like ECG, echocardiogram, or stress test.

2. Cardiomyopathy is a group of disease that
affects heart muscles. It is mostly hereditary
(run into families). These diseases enlarge the
heart muscle or make it thicker and more rigid
than normal. In rare cases, scar tissue replaces
the muscle tissue.

3.  Dilated cardiomyopathy - It happens when the heart muscle begins to
stretch and becomes thinner.
 Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy- It occurs if the heart muscle cells
enlarge and cause the walls of the heart to thicken. Hypertrophic
cardiomyopathy is a common cause of sudden cardiac arrest in young
people, including athletes.
 Restrictive cardiomyopathy- It tends to affect older adults. The heart
becomes rigid because abnormal tissue (e.g. scar tissue) replaces the
normal heart muscle so the heart muscle is unable to relax
 Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia- It is caused by genetic
defects of the parts of heart muscle known as desmosomes, areas on the
surface of heart muscle cells which link the cells together.
 Stress cardiomyopathy or broken heart syndrome: It is a type of non-
ischemic cardiomyopathy in which there is a sudden temporary
weakening of the muscular portion of the heart, it is mostly caused by
emotional ups-downs.

4. Many people live a long life with cardiomyopathy. Many didn't
get any symptoms or know that they are affected by it. As
cardiomyopathy worsens and weakens the heart, symptoms of
heart failure usually occur, which may include:
 Shortness of breath or trouble breathing, especially with
physical exertion
 Fatigue (tiredness)
 Swelling in the ankles, feet, legs, abdomen, and veins in the
neck

5. In most cases and types of cardiomapathy, the cause of it is
inherited. But in case of restrictive and dilated cardiomyopathy
there may be some other causes.
In case of dilated cardiomayopathy:
 Alcohol
 Certain toxins, such as poisons and heavy metals
 Complications during the last months of pregnancy
 Coronary heart disease, heart attack, high blood pressure,
diabetes, thyroid disease, viral hepatitis, and HIV
 Drugs such as cocaine and amphetamines, and some medicines
used to treat cancer
 Infections, especially viral infections that inflame the heart
muscle

6.  Amyloidosis: A disease in which abnormal proteins build up in
the body's organs, including the heart
 Connective tissue disorders
 Hemochromatosis: A disease in which too much iron builds up
in the body. The extra iron is toxic to the body and can damage
the organs, including the heart.
 Sarcoidosis: A disease that causes inflammation and can affect
various organs in the body.
Some cancer treatments, such as radiation and chemotherapy

7. The major risk factor in case of cardiomyopathy is the family
history of heart diaseases. Other risk factors may include:
 A family history of cardiomyopathy, heart failure,
or sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)
 A disease or condition that can lead to cardiomyopathy,
such as coronary heart disease, heart attack, or a viral
infection that inflames the heart muscle
 Diabetes or other metabolic diseases, or severe obesity
 Diseases that can damage the heart, such as
hemochromatosis, sarcoidosis, or amyloidosis
 Long-term alcoholism
 Long-term high blood pressure

8. There may be surgical treatments in case of severe
cardiomyopathy, which may include:
 Septal myectomy, it is an open-heart surgery and is used to treat
people who have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and severe
symptoms.
 Surgically implanted device, which is placed in the heart to
improve its function.
 Heart transplant, it is used to treat any end-stage heart failure.

9. In less severe cases, medications are used. Which are?
 Medications to balance electrolytes in your body- Abnormal
electrolyte levels may be a sign of dehydration, heart failure,
high blood pressure, or other disorders. Aldosterone are
example of such medicine.
 Medications to keep heart beating in normal rhythm-These
medicines, called antiarrhythmics, help prevent arrhythmias.
 Medications to lower the blood pressure-ACE inhibitors,
angiotensin II receptor blockers, beta blockers, and calcium
channel blockers are examples of medicines that lower blood
pressure.
 Medications to create prevent blood clots from forming.
Anticoagulants, or blood thinners, are an example of a medicine
that prevents blood clots. Blood thinners often are used to
prevent blood clots from forming in people who have dilated
cardiomyopathy.
Continue:

10.  Medications to reduce inflammation-Corticosteroids are an
example of a medicine used to reduce inflammation.
 Medication to remove excess sodium from the body. Diuretics,
or water pills, are an example of medicines that help remove
excess sodium from the body, which reduces the amount of
fluid in the blood.
 Medications to reduce the heart rate. Beta blockers, calcium
channel blockers, and digoxin are examples of medicines that
slow the heart rate. Beta blockers and calcium channel blockers
also are used to lower blood pressure.
Continue:

11.  It primary diagnosis, the doctor learns about if any
family history of heart disease, and physical exam which
include listening to heart beats.
 A chest x ray, which takes pictures of the organs and structures
inside the chest, such as your heart, lungs, and blood vessels.
This test can show if heart is enlarged or not.
 Stress test may also be done to see the beating of heart during
any intense physical exercise.
 An electrocardiogram, to measure the heart's electrical activity
 An echocardiogram, it shows how is the heart is working, its
shape and size.

12. Logon to
www.lazoi.com
Like us on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/LazoiTheLife
Follow us on Twitter
https://www.twitter.com/lazoithelife
Follow us on Pinterest
https://www.in.pinterest.com/lazoithelife