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Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy simply means that your heart muscle and pumping power of your heart is weaker than normal. A weakened heart does not pump enough blood throughout your body. Blood carries the oxygen and nutrients necessary to meet the entire body’s needs. When your heart is weakened and does not pump as it should, it may cause cardiomyopathy.

There are four types of cardiomyopathies.

Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy: In medicine, "idiopathic" refers to a condition that has an unknown cause, and when something is dilated, it is enlarged. Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy refers to the condition of the heart being enlarged for reasons that are not known to your physician

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: This occurs when the walls of the heart increase in thickness and the ventricles inside the heart walls shrink. When this happens, only small amounts of blood can be pumped with each heart beat. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is also known as "idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis" or "IHS"

Restrictive Cardiomyopathy: This is characterized by loss of the usual elastic properties of the primary chambers of the heart. With restrictive cardiomyopathy, the walls of the heart have become thickened and stiff. Because the walls of the heart are no longer elastic, blood cannot completely fill the ventricles

Ischemic Cardiomyopathy: Ischemia is a temporary reduction of blood flow because an area is blocked or narrowed. Ischemic cardiomyopathy can occur after a "heart attack," because the heart muscle has become weaker

 

Symptoms of Cardiomyopathy Include:

You may experience any combination of the following:

a run down, tired feeling, no energy

weight gain or edema (caused by retaining extra water in your feet, hands, or stomach)

chest pain because of extra heart beats (palpitations or fluttering in chest)

a difficulty in breathing, especially when walking, carrying groceries, climbing stairs, or after simple household cleaning

a dry, hacking cough

dizziness, lightheadedness, or "passing out" (fainting);

belly, leg, ankle and/or feet swelling, pain, or tenderness in abdomen, nausea

loss of appetite

 

Diagnosing Cardiomyopathy:

The diagnostic tests ordered by your health professional may include the following:

blood tests,
EKG (electrocardiogram),
chest x-ray,
echo or sound wave test (echocardiogram),
possibly a cardiac catheterization to measure the pressure within your lungs

 

Cardiomyopathy Treatment Options:

Medical therapy includes treatment with medications, diet restriction, and weight reduction. Your physician will tailor your treatment to your individual needs.

Medication(s): Taking medication every day is important in treating your heart condition. Depending on your symptoms and which cardiomyopathy you have, your physician may start treatment by ordering one medicine and then adding others later.

The medications used to treat cardiomyopathy attempt to increase the amount of blood pumped out by the heart with each beat. This called "cardiac output." The benefits of these medications will be lost or reduced if you do not take your medicine as ordered.

Take your medications as prescribed

Skipping doses can cause serious problems
Taking more medication than ordered can cause serious problems

Diuretics: or "water pills" help remove extra water and salt from the body by making you urinate more often. This type of medication keeps fluid from collecting in your feet, ankles, legs, and belly. Skipping doses can cause swelling in these parts of your body and difficulty with breathing when lying down or during physical activity. Examples of diuretics include Lasix and Bumex.

Digitalis: is a medication to strengthen each heartbeat, allowing your heart to pump more blood, which may improve your ability to do physical activity. Examples of digitalis include Lanoxin and Digoxin.

ACE inhibitors: ACE inhibitors are drugs to relax your blood vessels and make it easier for your heart to pump. For some people, it may take time before feeling better from taking these medications. Examples of ACE inhibitors include Captopril, Vasotec, and Lisinopril.

Other drugs may include:

an anticoagulant (blood thinner), such as Coumadin,
nitroglycerin,
medicine to regulate heart rhythm (such as Amiodarone)

Diet Restrictions: In addition to taking medications, you must change your diet. Because sodium (salt) causes water to build up in the body, you must restrict salt intake. If you do not, your feet, ankles, legs, and belly may swell, and you may find it hard to breathe. If these symptoms become severe, hospital treatment may be required.

Be especially aware of foods with hidden salt, such as frozen or canned foods, cheeses, and lunch meats. Foods such as hot dogs, salami and canned soups often contain a lot of salt. Check the nutrition labels for salt content. The usual recommendation- is no more than 2,000 mg of sodium per day.

Alcohol: If you drink alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, etc.) you need to stop. These can make your heart weaker.

Weight: Watch your weight. Obtain an accurate scale and weigh yourself each morning before eating breakfast, but after urinating. If you gain 3 to 5 pounds within 2 to 3 days, call your health professional. The weight gain may mean your body is retaining fluid.