Cardiomyopathy: Types, Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

What Is Cardiomyopathy?

Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle, commonly referred to as the myocardium. It causes your heart muscle to become stiff, hardened, or stretched, and may also cause a scar in some cases. This reduces your heart’s ability to pump oxygen-rich blood to the rest of your body, leading to low oxygen saturation. Over time, your heart gets weak, which can lead to heart failure.

Treatment for cardiomyopathy typically includes medications and, in some cases, heart surgery. And it depends on the severity of the condition and the type of cardiomyopathy. In rare cases, a heart transplant is also needed.

What Are the Types of Cardiomyopathy?

There are various types of cardiomyopathy. The main types include the following -

• Dilated Cardiomyopathy: In dilated cardiomyopathy, the heart muscles begin to stretch and thin. This decreases the heart's ability to pump blood to the rest of the body. This type is more prevalent in men aged 50 and above, but it can also occur in people of all ages. It is mainly caused by coronary artery disease and a heart attack.

• Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: In this condition, the heart muscles become thick, making it challenging for your heart to pump blood to other parts of the body. This condition runs in families. It can occur at any age, but it tends to worsen if it develops in childhood.

• Restrictive Cardiomyopathy: This condition occurs when your heart muscles become stiff and less flexible. This results in an inability to expand and cannot get filled with blood between the heartbeats. Restrictive cardiomyopathy is more common in older people; however, it can occur in people of any age. This condition may have an unknown cause (idiopathic) or may be caused by conditions that affect other parts of the body, such as amyloidosis.

• Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC): This is a rare type of cardiomyopathy. It occurs when fat or fibrous tissue deposits in your heart muscle, decreasing its ability to pump blood and causing unusual heart rhythms that can be fatal. This condition occurs more frequently in the lower right chamber (right ventricle) and is common in individuals aged between 10 and 50. This has a genetic cause.

• Ischemic Cardiomyopathy: This type occurs when your heart muscles have a poor blood supply due to certain diseases like coronary artery disease or a heart attack. This causes weakening and enlargement of the heart’s left ventricle, which is your heart’s main pumping chamber of blood to other parts of the body.

• Unclassified Cardiomyopathy: All other types of cardiomyopathy come under this type.

What Are the Symptoms of Cardiomyopathy?

The symptoms of cardiomyopathy include the following -

• Swelling of the legs and feet.

• Fatigue.

• Pain or discomfort in the chest.

• Dizziness.

• Syncope (fainting).

• Persistent cough.

• Fluid retention.

• Shortness of breath.

• Swelling in the abdomen.

• Palpitations.

• Lightheadedness.

• Myocardial thickening.

• Rapid heartbeats.

• Enlargement of the cavities of the heart.

• Episodes of clot formation in the heart.

• Fluctuations in blood pressure.

What Causes Cardiomyopathy?

Cardiomyopathy causes include -

• Thyroid disorders.

• Connective tissue diseases.

• Diabetes (increased blood sugar levels).

• Obesity.

• Genetic mutations.

• Increased blood pressure.

• Tachycardia (rapid heartbeat).

• Long-term alcohol or substance abuse.

• Pregnancy.

• Amyloidosis (deposition of protein in heart muscles).

• Hemochromatosis (increased absorption and retention of iron in the body).

• Hyperlipidemia (increased cholesterol).

How Is Cardiomyopathy Diagnosed?

The diagnosis of cardiomyopathy will be based on your personal and family medical history, as well as a physical examination. The tests to confirm the diagnosis include -

1. Blood Tests - These are used to determine how well your kidneys, liver, and other body organs are functioning. It also helps measure B-type natriuretic peptide levels (BNP), which increase when there is a strain in your heart muscles.

2. Echocardiogram - This test is used to assess how blood flows through your heart and heart valves.

3. Chest X-ray - This helps determine the structure of your heart and lungs. It shows whether your heart is enlarged.

4. Exercise Stress Test - This test is performed while exercising on a treadmill. Sometimes, if you cannot exercise, certain medications are given to increase your heart rate as exercise does. This test evaluates how your heart functions during exercise.

5. Cardiac MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) - This is performed when cardiomyopathy is not confirmed with an echocardiogram.

6. Electrocardiogram - It helps to measure the electrical activity of the heart. This displays your heart rhythm and the pattern of your heartbeats.

7. Cardiac Catheterization - A slender tube is inserted through a blood vessel to the heart to measure pressure and blood flow. A dye may be used to check for blocked arteries (a coronary angiogram). Sometimes, a small piece of heart tissue is taken for lab testing (biopsy).

8. Cardiac CT (Computed Tomography) - This test helps identify any blockages or calcium deposits in the arteries. It also helps to determine the size of the heart and its valves.

How Is Cardiomyopathy Treated?

Cardiomyopathy cannot be cured, but it can be treated to manage the symptoms. The management of cardiomyopathy depends on the type of cardiomyopathy and its severity.

The general treatment for cardiomyopathy includes the following -

Medications:

• Antihypertensives (reduce blood pressure).

• Anticoagulants, or blood thinners (prevent clot formation).

• Antiarrhythmics (help control abnormal heart rhythm).

• Medications to decrease cholesterol.

• Aldosterone antagonists (help remove excess salt and water from your body).

• Corticosteroids (reduce inflammation).

Devices to Increase Blood Flow and Control Abnormal Heart Rhythm:

• Pacemakers: These are small devices placed in the chest to help regulate the heart's rhythm when it beats too slowly.

• Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs): These are devices that monitor heart rhythm and give a slight shock if a dangerous, fast rhythm occurs to prevent sudden cardiac arrest.

• Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT): A special type of pacemaker that helps both sides of the heart beat in sync, improving heart function in heart failure patients.

• Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD): A mechanical pump that helps the heart’s main pumping chamber (left ventricle) send blood to the body when the heart is too weak to do it on its own.

Surgery:

• Septal Myectomy - A kind of open-heart surgery done in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The thickened part of the heart muscle (usually the septum) is removed to restore the heart's effectiveness in pumping blood to other parts of the body.

• Heart Transplant - This involves replacing a weakened heart with a healthy heart from a donor.

• Alcohol Septal Ablation - This procedure is used to treat hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, where alcohol is injected into the heart’s arteries using a small, slender tube (catheter). The alcohol shrinks the thickened muscles and restores function.

• Catheter Ablation - In this procedure, the catheter is inserted into the heart through the blood vessels. Cold or heat energy is used to create scars in areas where abnormal electrical activity in the heart begins. These scars help prevent abnormal rhythms.

Lifestyle Changes:

• Reduce your stress levels.

• Avoid tobacco products.

• Avoid alcohol.

• You must consume foods low in fat and salt.

• Maintain an appropriate body weight.

• Practice exercise regularly.

• Get the proper quantity of sleep.

What Can I Expect if I Have Cardiomyopathy?

Cardiomyopathy is a harmful condition that can turn fatal if not treated properly. It is a condition that progresses over time, meaning it worsens gradually. The prognosis for cardiomyopathy improves when it is treated promptly by a cardiologist.

Various treatment options are available depending on the type of cardiomyopathy, which helps improve your prognosis and overall quality of life.

How Can I Prevent the Risk of Cardiomyopathy?

The following measures help lower your risk of cardiomyopathy -

• You should keep your blood pressure under control.

• Maintain your cholesterol levels within normal range.

• Manage blood sugar levels within the normal limit if you have diabetes.

• Give up alcohol or substance abuse if you have any.

• Stay active by engaging in regular physical activity.

• Take medications as prescribed by your doctor for any underlying condition.

• Plan regular visits with your doctor to monitor your health.

Conclusion

Cardiomyopathy is a disease that affects your heart’s ability to pump blood to other body parts. This occurs due to the weakening of the heart muscles, which can result from thickening or scarring of the heart muscle. Various types of cardiomyopathy exist, and treatment depends on the type and severity of the condition.

If you have any doubts regarding your heart health, get expert advice from doctors at iCliniq, who can run through your symptoms and give guidance on further steps.

Key Takeaways:

• Cardiomyopathy is a heart muscle disease that impairs the heart's pumping function.

• Heart failure due to cardiomyopathy occurs when the heart muscles become weak.

• Types of cardiomyopathy include ischemic, restrictive, peripartum, dilated, and others.

• Treatment typically involves lifestyle modifications, medications, medical devices, and, in some cases, surgery.

• If you have any symptoms that resemble cardiomyopathy, book a cardiologist consultation at iCliniq to confirm the diagnosis and to get clear guidance on treatment.