Cardiovascular

Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy means diseases of the heart muscle. Some types of cardiomyopathy are genetic, while others occur for reasons that are less well understood. Types of cardiomyopathy include ischemic, which is caused by loss of heart muscle from reduced coronary blood flow; dilated, which means the heart chambers are enlarged; hypertrophic, which means the heart muscle is thickened; and idiopathic, which means the cause is unknown. One of the most common types of cardiomyopathy is idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy — an enlarged heart without a known cause.

Types of cardiomyopathy

There are four general types of cardiomyopathy:

Dilated cardiomyopathy
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Restrictive cardiomyopathy
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia

Cardiomyopathy can also result from other hereditary syndromes, such as hemochromatosis, diabetes, or some neuromuscular diseases.

Sign and Symptoms

In some cases people suffering from cardiomyopathy may experience symptoms of congestive heart failure. Common early warning sings of congestive heart failure may include:

* Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
* Decreasing ability to tolerate physical exertion
* Chest pain
* Fainting (especially after activity)
* Lightheadedness (especially after activity)
* Dizziness
* Sensation of feeling heart beat (palpitations)
* High blood pressure

If you experience any of these symptoms, a doctor can perform a combination of diagnostic tests to clarify the diagnosis.

Treatment

When cardiomyopathy causes congestive heart failure, then doctors can prescribe drugs to treat those symptoms. However, people with severe congestive heart failure may need to be hospitalized or may require a heart transplant. If the cardiomyopathy results from CAD, then doctors treat that illness through drugs, lifestyle modifications, or surgery to remove blockages in the heart. In most cases, doctors can't treat the cardiomyopathy itself.