PCCN Cardiomyopathy

PCCN Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy (kahr-dee-o-my-OP-uh-thee) is a disease of the heart muscle that makes it harder for your heart to pump blood to the rest of your body. Cardiomyopathy can lead to heart failure.

The main types of cardiomyopathy include dilated, hypertrophic and restrictive cardiomyopathy. Treatment — which might include medications, surgically implanted devices or, in severe cases, a heart transplant — depends on which type of cardiomyopathy you have and how serious it is.

Signs and Symptoms

There might be no signs or symptoms in the early stages of cardiomyopathy. But as the condition advances, signs and symptoms usually appear, including:

• Breathlessness with exertion or even at rest
• Swelling of the legs, ankles and feet
• Bloating of the abdomen due to fluid buildup
• Cough while lying down
• Fatigue
• Heartbeats that feel rapid, pounding or fluttering
• Chest discomfort or pressure
• Dizziness, lightheadedness and fainting

Causes

Often the cause of the cardiomyopathy is unknown. In some people, however, it’s the result of another condition (acquired) or passed on from a parent (inherited).

• Contributing factors for acquired cardiomyopathy include:
• Long-term high blood pressure
• Heart tissue damage from a heart attack
• Chronic rapid heart rate
• Heart valve problems
• Metabolic disorders, such as obesity, thyroid disease or diabetes
• Nutritional deficiencies of essential vitamins or minerals, such as thiamin (vitamin B-1)
• Pregnancy complications
• Drinking too much alcohol over many years
• Use of cocaine, amphetamines or anabolic steroids
• Use of some chemotherapy drugs and radiation to treat cancer
• Certain infections, especially those that inflame the heart
• Iron buildup in your heart muscle (hemochromatosis)
• A condition that causes inflammation and can cause lumps of cells to grow in the heart and other organs (sarcoidosis)
• A disorder that causes the buildup of abnormal proteins (amyloidosis)
• Connective tissue disorders

Complications

• Heart Failure
• Blood Clots
• Valve Problems
• Sudden Cardiac Death

Treatment

The goals of cardiomyopathy treatment are to manage your signs and symptoms, prevent your condition from worsening, and reduce your risk of complications. Treatment varies by which type of cardiomyopathy you have.