Get regular checkups with your doctor. Take all of your medicines as your doctor prescribes. Signs, Symptoms, and Complications - Cardiomyopathy. These signs and symptoms include: Shortness of breath or trouble breathing, especially with physical exertion Fatigue tiredness Swelling in the ankles, feet, legs, abdomen, and veins in the neck Other signs and symptoms may include dizziness; light-headedness; fainting during physical activity; arrhythmias irregular heartbeats ; chest pain, especially after physical exertion or heavy meals; and heart murmurs.
Diagnosis - Cardiomyopathy. Specialists Involved Often, a cardiologist or pediatric cardiologist diagnoses and treats cardiomyopathy. Medical and Family Histories Your doctor will want to learn about your medical history. Physical Exam Your doctor will use a stethoscope to listen to your heart and lungs for sounds that may suggest cardiomyopathy.
Diagnostic Tests Your doctor may recommend one or more of the following tests to diagnose cardiomyopathy. Blood Tests During a blood test , a small amount of blood is taken from your body.
Blood tests give your doctor information about your heart and help rule out other conditions. Chest X Ray A chest x ray takes pictures of the organs and structures inside your chest, such as your heart, lungs, and blood vessels. Holter and Event Monitors Holter and event monitors are small, portable devices.
Echocardiography Echocardiography echo is a test that uses sound waves to create a moving picture of your heart. Stress Test Some heart problems are easier to diagnose when your heart is working hard and beating fast. Diagnostic Procedures You may have one or more medical procedures to confirm a diagnosis or to prepare for surgery if surgery is planned. Cardiac Catheterization This procedure checks the pressure and blood flow in your heart's chambers.
Coronary Angiography This procedure often is done with cardiac catheterization. Myocardial Biopsy For this procedure, your doctor removes a piece of your heart muscle. Myocardial biopsy is useful for diagnosing some types of cardiomyopathy.
Genetic Testing Some types of cardiomyopathy run in families. Treatment - Cardiomyopathy. Your doctor may prescribe medicines to: Balance electrolytes in your body. Electrolytes are minerals that help maintain fluid levels and acid-base balance in the body. They also help muscle and nerve tissues work properly.
Abnormal electrolyte levels may be a sign of dehydration lack of fluid in your body , heart failure , high blood pressure, or other disorders. Aldosterone blockers are an example of a medicine used to balance electrolytes. Keep your heart beating with a normal rhythm. These medicines, called antiarrhythmics, help prevent arrhythmias. Lower your blood pressure.
ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, beta blockers, and calcium channel blockers are examples of medicines that lower blood pressure. Prevent blood clots from forming. Anticoagulants, or blood thinners, are an example of a medicine that prevents blood clots. Blood thinners often are used to prevent blood clots from forming in people who have dilated cardiomyopathy.
Reduce inflammation. Corticosteroids are an example of a medicine used to reduce inflammation. Remove excess sodium from your body.
Diuretics, or water pills, are an example of medicines that help remove excess sodium from the body, which reduces the amount of fluid in your blood. Slow your heart rate. Beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, and digoxin are examples of medicines that slow the heart rate. Beta blockers and calcium channel blockers also are used to lower blood pressure. Septal Myectomy Septal myectomy is open-heart surgery and is used to treat people who have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and severe symptoms.
Surgically Implanted Devices Surgeons can place several types of devices in the heart to improve function and symptoms, including: Cardiac resynchronization therapy CRT device. Implantable cardioverter defibrillator ICD. An ICD helps control life-threatening arrhythmias that may lead to sudden cardiac arrest. This small device is implanted in the chest or abdomen and connected to the heart with wires.
If an ICD senses a dangerous change in heart rhythm, it will send an electric shock to the heart to restore a normal heartbeat. Left ventricular assist device LVAD. This device helps the heart pump blood to the body. An LVAD can be used as a long-term therapy or as a short-term treatment for people who are waiting for a heart transplant.
This small device is placed under the skin of your chest or abdomen to help control arrhythmias. The device uses electrical pulses to prompt the heart to beat at a normal rate. Nonsurgical Procedure Doctors may use a nonsurgical procedure called alcohol septal ablation to treat cardiomyopathy. Living With - Cardiomyopathy. Lifestyle Changes A healthy diet and physical activity are part of a heart healthy lifestyle.
Your doctor also may suggest other lifestyle changes, such as: Quitting smoking Losing excess weight Avoiding the use of alcohol and illegal drugs Getting enough sleep and rest Reducing stress Ongoing Care If you have cardiomyopathy, it's important to get ongoing care. You also should: Take all of your medicines as your doctor prescribes.
Make all of the lifestyle changes that your doctor suggests. Make sure you go to all of your medical checkups. Follow your treatment plan for any underlying conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Trials at the NIH Clinical Center Evaluating heart conditions This study aims to help train staff on a range of heart conditions by evaluating patients of all ages at the NIH Clinical Center who have heart disease or are at risk of heart disease.
Participants in the study must be at risk for or have symptoms of cardiovascular diseases. Some examples of cardiovascular diseases include coronary heart disease, heart valve disease, cardiomyopathies, peripheral artery disease, congenital heart disease, and vascular disease of the kidneys. This study is located in Bethesda, Maryland. This study aims to find out how common it is for people with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy to also have sleep apnea.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a disease that causes the heart muscle to thicken. Participants will also wear a heart rhythm monitor to help researchers learn whether sleep apnea is linked to arrhythmia. The study seeks healthy volunteers as well as participants in the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Registry.
To participate in this study, you must not have had a catheter ablation procedure to treat atrial fibrillation, had surgery to replace your heart valves, or been treated for sleep apnea.
The study is located in Rochester, Minnesota. More Information. Heart-Healthy Living. When recommending treatment, we always consider the least invasive approach first. Options range from lifestyle support and medications to implantable devices, procedures, and surgeries. We also consider clinical trials for new, promising treatments when possible. We understand the challenges of living with a chronic heart condition.
Our team of psychologists, specially trained in the needs of people with cardiovascular disease, can help you adjust to your diagnosis or make difficult treatment decisions. They can help you manage health-related stress and assist you in implementing important lifestyle adjustments. They may change the way your heart functions squeezes or relaxes , the way your heart is shaped enlargement of the chambers, thickening of the chamber walls , or the structure of the heart muscle itself differences such as scarring or a spongy appearance.
Additionally, a heart with cardiomyopathy can have a harder time beating normally, which can result in abnormal heart rhythms called arrhythmias. Arrhythmias may not necessarily lead to noticeable symptoms but can still increase the risk for sudden cardiac death, stroke, and other complications. Other complications of cardiomyopathy may include heart valve problems and pulmonary hypertension.
Catching cardiomyopathy early and getting proper treatment from experts gives you the best chance to live a healthy life. Some people never experience serious problems related to their inherited cardiomyopathy and may just need regular checkups. Some may need medications and possibly an implanted device or procedure to protect against arrhythmia.
A small number of people with severe cardiomyopathy may need an implantable pump for mechanical support of the heart or a heart transplant.
Our center provides world-leading care for genetic diseases of the heart and blood vessels. We bring together specialized cardiologists, genetic counselors, cardiovascular advanced practice providers APPs , specially trained registered nurses, and other experts to provide all the support you and your family need. Stanford cardiomyopathy specialists pioneered many of the most current therapies and continue to improve treatment. We bring together the range of experienced specialists you need for successful care.
To schedule an appointment, please call: How does cardiomyopathy differ from other heart disorders? Cardiomyopathy differs from many of the other disorders of the heart in several ways, including: Cardiomyopathy can occur in young people.
The condition tends to be progressive. Sometimes it worsens fairly quickly. It may be associated with diseases involving other organs, as well as the heart. Dilated cardiomyopathy is a leading cause for a heart transplant. It's often the result of gradual changes of heart structure over time What causes cardiomyopathy?
They are: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy Dilated cardiomyopathy Restrictive cardiomyopathy What is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy? This is a rare disease and in most cases is inherited. Some people have arrhythmias, which may lead to sudden death. What is dilated cardiomyopathy? The cavity of the heart is enlarged and stretched, compromising the heart's ability to pump normally and relax appropriately: This occurs most often in adults ages 20 to Most people eventually develop heart failure.
It sometimes occurs as a complication of pregnancy and childbirth. What is restrictive cardiomyopathy? Sometimes, both problems are present.
In a case of restrictive cardiomyopathy, the heart muscle is of normal size or slightly enlarged. Most of the time, it also pumps normally. However, it does not relax normally during the time between heartbeats when the blood returns from the body diastole. Although the main problem is abnormal filling of the heart, the heart may not pump blood strongly when the disease progresses.
The abnormal heart function can affect the lungs, liver, and other body systems. Restrictive cardiomyopathy may affect either or both of the lower heart chambers ventricles. Restrictive cardiomyopathy is a rare condition. The most common causes are amyloidosis and scarring of the heart from an unknown cause. It also can occur after a heart transplant. Symptoms of heart failure are most common.
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