Last updated on January 7, 2022
Content By: Dr. Nikita Toshi BDS, Assistant Manager (Medical Review), Dr. Ritu Budania MBBS, MD (Pharmacology) Head, Medical Affairs
Last updated on January 7, 2022
How often do we give our heart the attention and care it deserves? Even if we do, we occasionally fail to recognize the signs that indicate that the most vital organ needs extra care in order to function better. It is important to be equipped with authentic information about the problems of the heart so we can identify them at the earliest and take steps to maintain our heart health. One such heart condition is cardiomyopathy.
Cardiomyopathy is a progressive condition that affects the heart muscle. The heart muscle weakens and cannot pump blood to the rest of the blood efficiently and becomes incapable of maintaining a normal heart rate. You may experience shortness of breath, fatigue and palpitations (a pounding heart). This heart condition can lead to arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) or even heart failure, making treatment of cardiomyopathy extremely important. There are several treatment of cardiomyopathy options available in India, based on the severity of the condition.
Here’s a complete guide to cardiomyopathy, including its causes, symptoms, diagnosis and the most effective treatment options, to help you manage this condition better and improve your quality of life.
How often do we give our heart the attention and care it deserves? Even if we do, we occasionally fail to recognize the signs that indicate that the most vital organ needs extra care in order to function better. It is important to be equipped with authentic information about the problems of the heart so we can identify them at the earliest and take steps to maintain our heart health. One such heart condition is cardiomyopathy.
Cardiomyopathy is a progressive condition that affects the heart muscle. The heart muscle weakens and cannot pump blood to the rest of the blood efficiently and becomes incapable of maintaining a normal heart rate. You may experience shortness of breath, fatigue and palpitations (a pounding heart). This heart condition can lead to arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) or even heart failure, making treatment of cardiomyopathy extremely important. There are several treatment of cardiomyopathy options available in India, based on the severity of the condition.
Here’s a complete guide to cardiomyopathy, including its causes, symptoms, diagnosis and the most effective treatment options, to help you manage this condition better and improve your quality of life.
Written by
BDS, Assistant Manager (Medical Review)
Reviewed by
MBBS, MD (Pharmacology) Head, Medical Affairs
Cardiomyopathy is a condition that affects the muscles of the heart (myocardium). When a person suffers from cardiomyopathy, their heart cannot pump blood to the rest of the body as well as it should. The condition gets worse with time. But the treatment of cardiomyopathy helps in slowing down its progression.
Cardiovascular diseases are one of the leading reasons for mortality due to non-communicable diseases in India. The prevalence of the disease in people of younger ages is a matter of grave concern. Ten deaths among men for every 100000 of the population are due to cardiomyopathy. On the other hand, five out of 100000 deaths among the female population are due to cardiomyopathy.
According to the CDC, 1 of 500 adults may have this condition from all around the world. It is indeed a very important heart condition to be mindful of as this often remains undiagnosed in its early stages. Children and young adults with this condition may have no symptoms but they are at a high risk of sudden cardiac death.
Dilated Cardiomyopathy – In this type of cardiomyopathy, the left ventricle (left lower chamber of the heart), which is the main pumping chamber of the heart, becomes dilated and weak. Symptoms include shortness of breath, swelling of legs and feet, weight gain related to fluid retention. The right kind of dilated myopathy treatment can help manage the condition better.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy – In this condition, the heart muscle thickens abnormally which makes it difficult to contract and relax efficiently to pump the blood.
Restrictive Cardiomyopathy – This type of cardiomyopathy makes the heart muscle stiff and less flexible. Restrictive cardiomyopathy prevents the heart from expanding properly and filling with blood in between heartbeats. It is the least common type of cardiomyopathy, which can affect people of all age groups.
Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia: It occurs when the right ventricle, which is the lower right chamber of the heart, gets replaced by scar tissue (formed due to injury or excess stress on the heart). The formation of scar tissues, which decrease the heart’s ability to pump blood, can lead to irregular heartbeats and ultimately heart failure. Treatment of cardiomyopathy for this type usually aims to manage the underlying cause and irregular heart rhythms.
Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy or Broken Heart Syndrome
In the case of broken heart syndrome or takotsubo cardiomyopathy, the heart muscle related to the left ventricle suddenly becomes weak. It occurs due to excessive physical or emotional stress. This is usually temporary and gets better with treatment within a few months.
Chemo-induced Cardiomyopathy
This type of cardiomyopathy occurs after some chemotherapy treatments. It happens when the heart’s lower left chamber enlarges and can’t pump blood as efficiently as it should.
Peripartum Cardiomyopathy
It is the weakness of the heart muscle during pregnancy. Peripartum cardiomyopathy can begin in the final month of pregnancy and last till five months after the delivery. In most cases, this condition happens right after delivery.
Diabetic Cardiomyopathy
It revolves around abnormal cardiac structure despite the absence of other cardiac issues like hypertension, vascular disease or coronary artery disorder. As the name suggests, diabetic cardiomyopathy is associated with uncontrolled diabetes. The mortality and morbidity rate of patients with diabetic cardiomyopathy is quite high.
Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy
It occurs due to high alcohol abuse. It can be managed by limiting or restricting alcohol consumption. Quitting alcohol can cause a noticeable improvement in the left ventricle functioning of patients with alcoholic cardiomyopathy.
Congestive Cardiomyopathy
It causes an abnormality of the ventricular myocardium. As a result of congestive cardiomyopathy, the pumping function of the entire heart gets impaired and leads to circulatory congestion.
Obstructive Cardiomyopathy
It thickens the heart wall to the extent that it blocks blood from exiting the heart. Obstructive cardiomyopathy is a common cause of death in young people due to cardiac issues and primarily occurs in the interventricular septum (the wall that separates the lower chambers, i.e., the ventricles) of the heart.
Cardiomyopathy is mostly prevalent in adults in the age group of 20 years to 60 years. But sometimes children and infants are also affected. Dilated cardiomyopathy is the most common type in children. The medical condition is more common in men than women.
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You should know the relevant signs and symptoms of the condition to understand if you need treatment for cardiomyopathy. After examining the symptoms, your doctor will conduct a few tests to determine the severity of the condition. The sooner the symptoms are managed, the better is the outlook.
Shortness of breath – People with cardiomyopathy often experience breathing difficulties. Even the slightest physical exertion can cause shortness of breath in individuals with this condition.
Fatigue – Fatigue is a key indicator of cardiomyopathy. The thickening of the heart muscle causes unexplained tiredness, sometimes even after getting adequate rest.
Swelling in the legs – Cardiomyopathy often leads to swelling in the legs. It is usually due to decreased blood flow in the body.
Dizziness or lightheadedness – Cardiomyopathy is also indicated by a feeling of dizziness or lightheadedness.
Fainting during physical activity – If you suddenly faint during any kind of physical activity, you might be suffering from cardiomyopathy.
Irregular heartbeat – Cardiomyopathy often causes the heart to beat out of its usual rhythm, meaning it may beat too fast or too slow.
Cough while lying down
Bloating due to fluid build-up
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Treatment of cardiomyopathy can begin only after a proper diagnosis of the issue. The procedures for cardiomyopathy diagnosis are as follows:
Medical history and clinical examination by a doctor.
Chest X-ray – A chest x-ray reveals images of the heart and the structures inside it. The test can indicate the thickening or the enlargement of the heart muscle or fluid buildup in the chest.
Electrocardiogram – The medical test records the electrical activities of the heart. It can show if the heart is beating irregularly.
Echocardiogram – This medical test helps in producing images of the heart with the help of sound waves. It reveals if your heart is working effectively according to its size and shape.
Treadmill stress test – A person is usually asked to run on the treadmill while their heartbeat is recorded in this test. An abnormal beating of the heart during physical activities can indicate the prevalence of cardiomyopathy.
Endomyocardial biopsy – In this procedure, a part of your heart muscle will be removed by the doctor. The muscle is studied under the microscope to detect changes in the cell structure. Any kind of defect in the cell structure will indicate you have cardiomyopathy.
Cardiac catheterization – A tube is inserted through the blood vessel and threaded into your heart. This process is used to determine the pressure and blood flow in the chambers of your heart. It helps in collecting blood samples to check for blockages in the arteries.
Cardiac MRI – Cardiac MRI helps in looking for blockage or obstruction in the blood vessels. It will also help in detecting the thickening of the heart muscle.
Cardiac CT scan – It is an advanced form of a chest x-ray. To get a better image of the heart, a CT scan of the chest is done.
Blood tests – A small amount of blood is obtained from the body to check if you have cardiomyopathy.
Genetic testing or screening – Sometimes cardiomyopathy can be genetic. Therefore, genetic testing is done to detect cardiomyopathy in family members. Genetic testing is also beneficial when your doctor suspects cardiomyopathy but doesn’t show any symptoms.
| Handy Tips to prepare for a cardiomyopathy diagnosis |
| Consult an efficient pathology lab to get the diagnostic tests done. |
| Ask your doctor which might be the best diagnostic test. |
| You might be nervous while going for the diagnostic tests. Therefore, ask someone to accompany you. |
| Make a list of your symptoms. |
| Understand the importance of vitamins or other supplements prescribed to you. |
| Keep track of personal details, such as a history of cardiomyopathy in the family. |
If you are diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, do not forget to take timely medications.
It is crucial to go for regular doctor appointments to keep the issues associated with cardiomyopathy in check.
Your doctor might also ask you to make some lifestyle changes. Follow the instructions of your doctor to avoid further complications of cardiomyopathy.
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Treatment of cardiomyopathy is based on its cause. While some people can get better with medications, others might have to undergo surgery.
These are several medications that help reduce the symptoms of cardiomyopathy and also help avoid further complications. It is recommended to consult your doctor regarding the medicines best suited for you, as medicines are prescribed taking into consideration the type of cardiomyopathy, the severity of the symptoms and also the underlying conditions. It is important to take your medicines on time and follow the instructions and dosage as prescribed by the doctor.
Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator – This device is implanted in the heart to monitor its rhythm and detect abnormal beating. It delivers electric shocks when the irregular rhythms of your heart need to be controlled. An ICD cannot cure cardiomyopathy. But it can help monitor and manage serious complications of cardiomyopathy.
Pacemakers – Pacemakers are small devices that are placed under the chest or abdomen skin. It causes electrical impulses that control arrhythmias. Arrhythmia refers to the irregular beating of the heart.
Ventricular assist device – This device helps in normalizing blood flow through the heart. It is implanted only when other non-invasive methods of treatment remain unsuccessful for treatment of cardiomyopathy. Sometimes it is a long-term treatment option and other times, the device is used till a heart transplant is done.
Heart Transplant – A heart transplant is done when an individual is diagnosed with end-stage heart failure. It is done after trying out medications and other methods of treatment for cardiomyopathy.
Septal Myectomy – It is a form of open-heart surgery in which a portion of the thick muscle wall in the heart is removed. The removal of the thickened heart muscles helps in improving the flow of blood through the heart. It is also good for managing mitral valve regurgitation. Mitral valve regurgitation is a type of condition with the mitral valve – the value between the left atrium and left ventricle doesn’t close properly, thus allowing blood to flow backwards into the heart. This surgical method is used for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy treatment in particular.
Septal ablation – In this non-surgical method, a small portion of the thick heart muscle is destroyed by injecting alcohol with the help of a catheter into the artery responsible for supplying blood to the septum. This enables proper blood flow through the area.
Radiofrequency ablation – This method requires the guidance of long and flexible catheters to the heart through blood vessels. A small spot of abnormal heart tissue leading to irregular heart rhythms is destroyed by the catheter. The electrodes present at the tip of the catheter provide the energy to damage the heart tissue.
Maintaining ideal weight – Being overweight often causes the heart to work harder than usual. You should lose weight or manage obesity if you want to reduce the risk of cardiomyopathy.
Eating a heart-healthy diet and monitoring sodium intake – A healthy diet that contains heart-healthy foods that will help in keeping heart disorders at bay is essential to follow. You can ask your doctor to prepare a meal plan for you or follow a diet chart for heart patients. It is also necessary to reduce salt and sodium intake to avoid fluid buildup in the body.
Regular exercise – Exercising helps you in staying fit and reduces the risk of many cardiovascular diseases. Doing some exercises for heart patients daily or engaging in moderate physical activities can also keep your weight in check. You may be advised to exert less. It is important to understand the physical activities allowed to you by your doctor and exercise accordingly.
Limiting alcohol intake – Reducing your alcohol intake or avoiding alcohol completely can significantly bring down the risk of cardiomyopathy, especially alcoholic cardiomyopathy.
Quitting smoking – Smoking increases the risk of cardiomyopathy along with other heart and lung disorders. If you cannot quit smoking, you can undergo therapy or take the help of other medical techniques.
Improving mental health and managing stress – Stress is a key risk factor of cardiomyopathy. Nowadays, it has become important to keep your mental health in check alongside your physical well-being. It is important to find out techniques that can help in alleviating your stress and improving your mental health.
Quality sleep and rest – To manage your cardiomyopathy, you should take adequate rest. If you don’t get consistent sleep, your cardiomyopathy complications might get worse.
Regular heart checkups – Every individual should go for regular checkups at least once or twice every year. Even the slightest symptoms of cardiomyopathy must be brought under immediate medical attention.
Attend doctor’s appointments with them – Accompany them to doctor’s appointments to extend your care. Pay attention to what the doctors advise so that you can ensure that they follow the doctors’ instructions.
Promote physical activities like exercise – Patients with cardiomyopathy might benefit from physical activities. Join your loved ones while exercising to inculcate in them the habit of exercising daily. However, consult your doctor first to know which kind of exercise is suitable for them.
Monitor their symptoms – You should be aware of the symptoms of cardiomyopathy if you want to take care of someone with this condition. Worsening of the symptoms might need immediate medical attention.
Ensure they don’t skip medications – You need to ensure that your loved ones suffering from cardiomyopathy are taking the medications on time. Skipping a pill or mistaking the dose can turn out to be fatal.
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Cardiomyopathy is associated with quite a few health problems in individuals.
Sometimes the heart can’t pump adequate blood to meet the requirements of your body. If heart failure remains untreated, it can be life-threatening.
Heart valve disease – Cardiomyopathy leads to the enlargement of the heart. The valves in an enlarged heart might not close properly. This will cause blood to flow back to the heart.
Arrhythmias – Cardiomyopathy causes irregular heartbeats. The irregular heartbeats can sometimes cause a person to faint. In severe cases, arrhythmia can cause sudden death.
Blood clots – As the heart can’t pump blood effectively due to cardiomyopathy, there is an increased risk of blood clots forming in the heart. The clots sometimes enter the bloodstream. This blocks the flow of blood to other organs, including the brain and the heart.
The outlook for cardiomyopathy depends on the type of cardiomyopathy and also the severity of the condition. The outlook for many patients with dilated cardiomyopathy has improved over the last decade due to the advancements in the healthcare industry. On the other hand, many patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy show no symptoms and almost have a normal life expectancy. Regardless of the type, cardiomyopathy is a progressive condition, meaning that it may worsen over time. However, having a proper treatment plan, making dietary changes and lifestyle adjustments can improve the outlook and quality of life to a significant extent.
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Whether cardiomyopathy can be treated or cured actually depends on the underlying cause and severity. But it is possible to control the effects of cardiomyopathy to some extent. Medications are available to manage cardiomyopathy, which must be taken according to the instructions of a qualified doctor. Some methods to promote a healthy lifestyle, including reducing salt intake and lowering blood pressure, should also be followed.
Medicines are most commonly used to manage cardiomyopathy in patients. Heart medications that improve blood flow and manage other underlying conditions can be quite beneficial. Devices like pacemakers can also be implanted to manage irregular heartbeats in patients. Surgeries can also be conducted on patients to manage cardiomyopathy. Heart transplant is done when all other methods of treatment remain unsuccessful. Your cardiologist can suggest the best treatment based on underlying diagnosis, age of the patient, other comorbidities, etc.
Cardiomyopathy is rare at young ages but it can be the reason for heart failure. Children with HIV-1 are at a higher risk of cardiomyopathy. Effective treatment for cardiomyopathy in children is still not available despite advancements in the field of medical science. Children who undergo cardiac transplantation due to cardiomyopathy have low chances of survival. Heart transplant is effective in the last stage of cardiomyopathy but children have to live with some permanent side effects.
If you have cardiomyopathy, restrict your intake of saturated and trans fats. You can include lean meat, beans and non-fried fish and low-fat products in your diet. A diet rich in berries, green and leafy vegetables, eggs and avocados can also help you manage cardiomyopathy. Be alert about your salt and sugar intake as eating too much salt increases the risk of high blood pressure. The most common causes of high blood pressure include smoking, stress, lack of physical activity and being obese.
With the right treatment for cardiomyopathy, people can live longer lives. Treatment usually begins from the least invasive methods. Usually, medicines are prescribed at first to see if they work on a patient with cardiomyopathy. If the medications do not work, doctors think about surgeries or implanting devices to manage cardiomyopathy. People who have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy usually exhibit no symptoms and can have a normal life expectancy. In most cases, the first symptom of cardiomyopathy is a sudden cardiac attack. People who show signs of cardiomyopathy at a young age have higher mortality rates.
The best hospital for cardiac treatment in India is the one that has experienced cardiologists.
Risk factors for cardiomyopathy include:
There are diseases that increase also your chances of developing cardiomyopathy which include:
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