Cardiomyopathy By: Sachelle Martin. What is Cardiomyopathy ? A disease in the heart muscle that...

Cardiomyopathy

By: Sachelle Martin

What is Cardiomyopathy ?

A disease in the heart muscle that makes it enlarged and more rigid than normal

In rare cases, scar tissue replaces the muscle tissue.

The 3 main types of Cardiomyopathy

Dilated Cardiomyopathy- a condition in which the heart becomes weakened and enlarged

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy - a condition in which the heart muscle becomes thick

Restrictive Cardiomyopathy- changes in and weakening of the heart muscle , which causes the heart to fill poorly, squeeze poorly , or both.

Causes of Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Alcohol and drug abuse

Abnormal heart rhythms

Autoimmune illnesses

Hereditary factors

Infections that involve the heart muscle

Heart valves that are too narrow or too leaky

Trace elements such as lead and mercury

Causes of hypertrophic

cardiomyopathy Usually inherited

A result of several heart defects within the genes that control the heart muscle growth

Causes of Restrictive Cardiomyopathy

Most common cause is a build up of amyloid proteins in organs (amyloidosis )

Scarring of the heart from an unknown cause ( idiopathic myocardial fibrosis )

Carcinoid heart disease ( tumors in the heart)

Diseases of the heart lining ( endocardium )

Iron overload ( hemochromatosis )

Scarring after radiation or chemotherapy

Tumors of the heart

What are the symptoms ?

Cough

Difficulty breathing

Chest pain

Fatigue

Loss of appetite

Swelling of feet and ankles

Shortness of breath

Dizziness

Decreased alertness or concentration

How common is the disease ?

It can affect both children and adults.

Most common in middle-aged men.

About 2 in 10,000 people are affected by the disease every year.

What are the risk factors ?

Higher risk of sudden death

May need medicines or a defibrillator

Risk for deadly heart rhythms

May need a heart transplant

How is the disease diagnosed ?

Changes on the electrocardiogram

Changes on chest x-ray

An ultrasound scan of the heart , called an echocardiogram

What are some treatments ?

Blood thinning medications

Chemotherapy

Diuretics to remove fluids and help improve breathing

Heart bypass

Heart transplant

A pacemaker

Limiting sodium level consumed

An implanted defibrillator

Bibliography

Hare JM. “The dilated, restrictive, and infiltrative cardiomyopathies.” MedlinePlus. Eds. Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP, Libby P . Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier. 4 June. 2012 . < www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000189.htm>

Maron BJ. “Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.” MedlinePlus. Eds. Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP, Libby P . Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier. 4 June. 2012. <www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000192.htm>

Uknown. “Cardiomyopathy . “ MedlinePlus. 4 June. 2012. <www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/cardiomyopathy.html>