What is cardiomyopathy?

Understanding Cardiomyopathy in Simple Terms

Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle that makes it harder for your heart to pump blood to the rest of your body, which can lead to heart failure, abnormal heart rhythms, and other serious complications.

What Is Cardiomyopathy?

Cardiomyopathy refers to a group of diseases that affect the heart muscle, causing it to become enlarged, thick, rigid, or replaced with scar tissue 1. Unlike other heart conditions caused by high blood pressure, heart valve problems, or blocked arteries, cardiomyopathy directly affects the heart muscle itself.

Main Types of Cardiomyopathy

The American Heart Association classifies cardiomyopathies into several main types 2:

1. Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)

   • The most common type
   • The heart chambers enlarge (dilate) and the heart muscle weakens
   • Makes it difficult for the heart to pump blood effectively
   • Can lead to heart failure

2. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)

   • Heart muscle becomes abnormally thick (hypertrophied)
   • Most common cause of sudden cardiac death in young athletes
   • Often inherited genetically
   • Affects about 1 in 250 to 1 in 500 people 1

3. Restrictive Cardiomyopathy

   • Heart muscle becomes stiff and rigid
   • Prevents the heart from filling properly with blood
   • Least common type, representing only 2-5% of cases 3

4. Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy

   • Heart muscle is replaced by fatty or fibrous tissue
   • Often affects the right ventricle
   • Can cause dangerous heart rhythm problems

5. Stress-Induced (Takotsubo) Cardiomyopathy

   • Temporary heart muscle weakness triggered by extreme emotional or physical stress
   • Often mimics a heart attack
   • Usually recovers within days or weeks

Symptoms of Cardiomyopathy

In early stages, cardiomyopathy often has no symptoms. As the condition progresses, symptoms may include 4:

• Shortness of breath, especially during activity or when lying down
• Fatigue and weakness
• Swelling in the legs, ankles, and feet
• Irregular heartbeats that feel rapid, pounding, or fluttering
• Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting
• Chest pain or pressure

Causes of Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy can be:

• Primary - occurs on its own with no clear cause
• Secondary - results from another condition affecting the heart

Common causes include 2, 1:

• Genetic factors - inherited from parents (over 100 genes have been linked to cardiomyopathies)
• Medical conditions - high blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid disease
• Infections - viral infections that damage the heart
• Toxins - alcohol, cocaine, certain chemotherapy drugs
• Pregnancy - a rare condition called peripartum cardiomyopathy

Diagnosis

Doctors diagnose cardiomyopathy using several tests 1:

• Physical examination and medical history
• Blood tests to check heart function
• Electrocardiogram (ECG) to record electrical activity
• Echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart)
• Cardiac MRI for detailed heart images
• Genetic testing, especially for family members of affected individuals

Treatment Options

Treatment aims to reduce symptoms, prevent complications, and improve quality of life 2, 5:

• Medications to improve heart function, control blood pressure, prevent blood clots, and regulate heart rhythm
• Implantable devices like pacemakers or defibrillators to control heart rhythm
• Cardiac resynchronization therapy to coordinate contractions between the heart's chambers
• Heart transplant for severe cases that don't respond to other treatments

Living with Cardiomyopathy

Important lifestyle changes include 4:

• Limiting alcohol consumption
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Regular, appropriate exercise (as advised by your doctor)
• Quitting smoking
• Following a low-sodium diet
• Managing stress
• Getting regular check-ups

When to See a Doctor

Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:

• Chest pain
• Severe shortness of breath
• Fainting

Prevention

While some forms of cardiomyopathy cannot be prevented (especially genetic types), you can reduce your risk by:

• Controlling high blood pressure and diabetes
• Avoiding excessive alcohol and recreational drugs
• Eating a heart-healthy diet
• Staying physically active
• Getting enough sleep

Understanding cardiomyopathy and working closely with healthcare providers can help manage this condition effectively and improve long-term outcomes.