Most cases of cardiomyopathy is hereditary and is commonly found in small children and young people. There are four main types of cardiomyopathy, the dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, restrictive cardiomyopathy, and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. Treatment of this disease will depend on how serious types of cardiomyopathy suffered.
Cause cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy or weak of heart occurs when the myocardium is unable to pump and deliver blood to all parts of the body. Besides influenced by an abnormal heart muscle structure, function disorder is also associated with several risk factors, including:
- Cardiac tissue damage from a heart attack previously experienced.
- Beats a heart that beats too fast in the long term.
- An inherited genetic condition.
- Patients with long-term high blood pressure.
- Disorders of the heart valves.
- Deficiencies of vitamins and minerals that are important for the body, such as vitamin B1.
- Metabolic disorders, such as diabetes, obesity, or diseases of the thyroid gland.
- Alcohol abuse such as excessive drinking habits over the years.
- Complications in pregnancy.
- Use of amphetamines, cocaine or anabolic steroids.
- Use of chemotherapy drugs and radiation therapy to treat cancer.
- Amyloidosis or disorders that can lead to the production of an abnormal protein.
- Hemochromatosis or a buildup of iron in the heart muscle.
- Sarcoidosis or certain conditions that can cause inflammation and growth of clumps of cells on the heart and other organs.
- Certain infections, including hepatitis C, can injure the heart and trigger cardiomyopathy.
- Disruption in the body's connective tissue.
The factors above will give different disturbances in heart muscle function. Primary cardiac muscle dysfunction which is divided into several types follows.
Restrictive cardiomyopathy
A fairly rare condition can be caused by the accumulation of abnormal protein or iron in the heart muscle. Moreover, it can be caused also by the condition amyloidosis, sarcoidosis, abnormalities in blood cells that can damage the heart, disorders of the body's connective tissue, and other disorders of unknown source. This disease usually occurs in elderly people although it can also occur at any age. These disorders arise as a result of the rigidity of the heart muscle so that the heart can not expand well that led to the inhibition of blood flow to the heart.
hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
This condition is mainly caused by genetic condition to run in families and can occur at any age. Disorders arising from abnormal thickening of the heart muscle, especially in the left ventricle of the heart. This resulted in the thickening of the heart becomes harder to pump blood.
Dilated cardiomyopathy
This condition can be caused by the consumption of drugs, chemotherapy drugs, alcohol, infections, coronary heart disease conditions, until the cause is unknown. This disease usually occurs in middle-aged men or patients with a history of cardiomyopathy in her family. Disorders arise because the left heart ventricle chamber patient can not contract and pump blood properly. This causes the left ventricle expands and inhibits blood flow to the outside of the heart.
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy
Type cardiomyopathy is relatively rare. Most cases are inherited diseases that are often caused by a mutation in one gene or more. These disorders arise because there are abnormalities in the proteins that glue the heart muscle cells. Abnormal heart muscle cells die and then replaced by new cells that are fatty and fibrous (scar tissue), causes the heart chamber becomes thin and stretched. The new cell is then blocking the heart to pump and distribute blood throughout the body. This disease can occur at any age, and patients usually have a troubled heart rate rhythm.
People with cardiomyopathy disease at risk of heart failure or other heart disease. Have enough information about the disease can help you recognize the early symptoms of cardiomyopathy.
Symptoms cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy or weak of heart is a disease that can occur at a young age and can cause sudden death for the sufferer. Be aware of symptoms of cardiomyopathy, especially in those who have a family history of heart failure. Here are the symptoms of heart muscle disorders are noteworthy and recognizable shape:
- Swelling in the legs, feet, and ankles.
- Coughing when lying down.
- Flatulence is caused by the fluid.
- Fatigue.
- Difficulty breathing even when resting.
- Irregular heartbeat.
- Dizziness and fainting.
- Pain in the chest.
In some cases, patients with cardiomyopathy may not show or feel these symptoms. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience difficulty breathing, chest pain that lasts more than a few minutes, or fainting.
Diagnosis cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy can be diagnosed through a series of tests based on the patient's symptoms are felt. In addition to a physical examination, the doctor will ask a family history of the disease. Other tests that may be undertaken by the owner of the patients symptoms of cardiomyopathy are:
- The electrocardiogram (ECG), assessing the electrical impulse to check if there is an interruption in the electrical activity of the heart. An EKG can detect rhythm disorders that lead to irregular heart rate, arrhythmia, or other disorders that can affect the activity of the heart.
- Echocardiography, is used to determine how well the heart is functioning through sound waves. This test will provide imaging to measure, rate, and heart valves so the doctor can get the right diagnosis.
- Treadmill stress test, conducted to monitor the level of stress that can be tolerated when the patient's heart activity. The tests will also examine how well the heart's work by observing the rhythm of breathing, blood pressure, and heart rhythm during physical exams took place.
- Cardiac catheterization, is done by inserting a small tube through the groin to examine the state of the heart's blood vessels. Moreover, this procedure can be used to measure the pressure inside the heart chambers. Besides the doctor can perform a coronary angiogram, in particular by inserting a kind of liquid dye to make sure no blood vessels are clogged. This procedure is usually performed when doctors need better imaging of the heart in addition to the results of X-ray images.
- Blood tests, taken to check the function of the thyroid gland, liver, and kidneys as well as monitor iron levels in the blood.
- Tests or genetic screening, particularly in patients who have a family history of cardiomyopathy. Consultation with family is highly recommended before running this test.
- X-rays of the chest, is used to determine if an enlarged heart in patients with symptoms of cardiomyopathy.
- MRI of the heart, usually performed to support the echocardiography test results and to ensure the final diagnosis.
- CT scans of the heart, performed to estimate the size of the heart and to monitor heart function and heart valve conditions.
Cardiomyopathy patients will require a thorough examination of the functioning of the heart, including monitoring the risk of serious arrhythmias. This is why the symptoms should immediately consult a doctor to avoid complications that lead to death.
Treatment of cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy or weak heart has several treatment options which refers to the symptoms and the type of cardiomyopathy suffered. But the focus of action treatment of this disease is to prevent the occurrence of serious complications and sudden death. Here are the actions performed based on the type of treatment suffered cardiomyopathy, the type of action may include medication or medical action:
Dilated cardiomyopathy can be treated with medications or implantable cardioversion defibrillator implanted in the body. Drugs given to work to lower blood pressure, improve blood flow, slows the heart rate, preventing blood clot, and removing excess fluid in the body. In addition to medication, cardioversion defibrillator implants in the body serves to monitor and control the heart rhythm. The pacemaker may also be recommended to reduce the risk of heart rhythm problems.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can be treated by a medical procedure or medication. Medications can reduce the pumping power of the heart, stabilize the rhythm, and make your heart relaxes. If the patient is at risk were classified as serious, then cardioversion defibrillator implants can be used to reduce the problem of irregular heartbeat. Other medical action that can be done is septal myectomy, which is making the heart muscle wall (septum) which thicken to the blood flow while reducing mitral regurgitation. Moreover, it can be done ablation of the heart muscle is thickened so that supply blood to flow through the area. The procedure is called with septal ablation, using an injection of alcohol on the heart muscle that want to be destroyed.
Restrictive cardiomyopathy require treatment that is more focused on reducing symptoms. Your doctor will monitor your intake of salt and water every day. Patients will be encouraged to take drugs diuretic that can increase the frequency of urination if patients have problems with levels of sodium or when the body holds too much water. Other drugs may also be prescribed to reduce blood pressure or abnormal heartbeat rhythms. If the disease is caused by amyloidosis, then the treatment will be adapted to the conditions of the disease.
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy can be followed by administration of drugs that can regulate the rhythm of the heartbeat. Medications can also be given to patients with atrial cardioversion users, but still had a rapid heartbeat rhythm. In addition to cardioversion defibrillator implant, patients can be treated using radio frequency ablation procedure. Appointment of body tissue using a catheter to drain electrode which will destroy the heart tissue causes heart rhythm disturbances.
Ventricular assist devices (VAD), used for blood circulation in the heart. This tool can be used in the long term nor short. Examples of use can be for patients awaiting a heart transplant. This tool is also used when other procedures do not provide the desired results.
Heart transplant. This procedure is the latest treatment options taken when all medical procedures are not effective or the condition of chronic heart failure.
Most of the treatment is not free from the influence of adverse effects on health. It is important for patients to obtain as much information as possible about the illness that does not progress to complications. Consulting a doctor is also highly recommended throughout the treatment process takes place.
Complications cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy or weak heart can cause serious complications if not promptly diagnosed and treated properly. Some of the complications that can arise, including blood clots to hamper the flow to other organs, heart valve does not close completely until the risk of becoming a leading cause of blood flow back to the heart, or heart failure that can lead to sudden death. Immediately contact your doctor to get treatment before the health condition got worse and lead to disease complications.
Prevention cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy or weak of heart, including conditions that can not be cured, so in addition to good management of symptoms, patients can prevent or reduce the complications of this disease by starting a healthier living habits. Some lifestyle changes that can be done:
- Reduce weight if you are classified as obese.
- Begin exercise habits that are not too strenuous for the heart.
- Stop smoking.
- Reduce consumption of alcoholic beverages.
- Set time well in order to get enough sleep.
- Pay attention to food intake by implementing a healthy diet every day, including reducing the levels of salt and sodium.
- Avoid stress.
- Schedule regular visits to the doctor to monitor the health condition or if you are suffering from other diseases at the same time.
Be sure to follow the doctor's advice when taking any medication.
Never too late to start a change that could potentially have a positive impact on your health. Expand knowledge of the illness, as well as inform the doctor if there is a history of cardiomyopathy in the family to get early treatment to reduce the risk of the disease getting worse or the onset of complications.
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