Cardiomyopathy is a heart muscle disease. It makes it harder for the heart to pump blood to the remaining human body. As a result of this, you can experience shortness of breath, heart palpitations, or fatigue. It can also lead to heart failure. This heart condition includes treatment like medicines, heart surgeries, surgically implanted devices, or, in extreme cases, a heart transplant. The treatment is dependent on the type and how serious the patient’s condition is.
Different types of Cardiomyopathy
Different types of Cardiomyopathy are as follows.
- Dilated Cardiomyopathy
It causes unusual tissue expansion and thinning in the primary pumping chamber of the heart.
- HOCM (Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy)
HOCM (Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy) is a disease-causing the heart muscle to become enlarged (hypertrophy).
- Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
It is an issue with damaged heart muscle that cannot pump blood well. Mostly, coronary arterial disease is the primary reason behind the ischemic disease that prevents oxygen-enriched blood from reaching the heart muscle.
- Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
In this disease, the heart muscle will lower the chamber or ventricles and make it stiff. It cannot fill the heart with blood and thus leads to its failure. It increases the pressure on the heart and might cause fluid to build up in the lungs.
Symptoms of Cardiomyopathy and When to Visit a Doctor
There are no visible symptoms or signs during the early phase of the disease. But whenever the condition advances, the following symptoms start to appear.
- Breathlessness during rest or while doing a specific activity
- Abdomen bloating due to fluid buildup
- Difficulty in lying flat in sleep
- Rapid, fluttering, or pounding heartbeat
- Fainting, dizziness and lightheadedness
- Leg, feet, and ankle swelling
- Coughing while lying down
- Fatigue
- Chest pressure or discomfort
If left untreated, these symptoms get worse with time. If you are encountering chest pain, rapid breathing, or even fainting lasting for a few minutes, it is time to go to a cardiologist. Sometimes, this condition is passed onto the patient through inherited characteristics. In this case, you need to get all your family members checked by a doctor.
FAQ
Is Cardiomyopathy a serious heart condition?
Based on the type that the patient has, the heart muscle can become stiffer, larger, or thicker than the normal heart muscles. It can thus weaken the heart, causing irregular heartbeat, a life-threatening condition like cardiac arrest, or, at last, heart failure. Some people even do not have any symptoms or signs at the early stage of this heart condition.
What are the Causes of Cardiomyopathy?
The specific cause of Cardiomyopathy is unknown. In some people, it is acquired, while in others, it gets inherited from their family. However, some behavior or conditions like below might lead to Cardiomyopathy.
- High blood pressure for a longer duration
- Rapid heart rate
- COVID-19 infection
- Pregnancy complications
- Tiny lump growth of the inflammatory cells in any body part, including lungs and heart
- Connective tissue disorder
- Cocaine, anabolic steroid, or amphetamine usage
- Damage of heart tissues from a heart attack
- Problems in heart valves
- Specific infections causing heart inflammation
- Absence of essential minerals or vitamins in the diet like thiamin or Vitamin B1
- Iron buildup in the muscle of the heart
- Abnormal protein buildups in the organs
- Drinking excessive alcohol for many years
- Radiation or chemotherapy drug use in treating cancer
Conclusion
If you are experiencing mild chest pain for some time or suddenly, then you must never ignore it and consult your cardiologist immediately. They will help you in diagnosing HOCM (Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy) or any other type, treat it, and help you live a longer life healthily. Regular appointments with a doctor will help them monitor the condition and offer the best treatment for it.