What is Cardiomyopathy?

What is Cardiomyopathy? Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle. It is a potentially serious condition in which the heart muscle becomes inflamed and cannot work properly. The exact nature and seriousness of cardiomyopathy depends on the form of the disease you have developed. Cardiomyopathy can be d iagnosed by a cardiologist or by an electro-physiologist (a doctor who specializes in the electrical conduction system of the heart). Your doctor will need to get a closer look at the function of your heart muscle. Some of the most common cardiac tests that are performed to diagnose cardiomyopathy include an echocardiogram, an electrocardiogram (ECG), a 24-hour Holter Monitor, and an exercise ECG test. There are two classifications of cardiomyopathy: primary cardiomyopathy and secondary cardiomyopathy. Primary cardiomyopathy is a condition independent of other discernable causes, and is itself the primary condition. Secondary cardiomyopathy is a cardiomyopathy that has occurred as a result of another disease. Diseases of other organs are common causes for secondary cardiomyopathy. Cardiomyopathy is also separated into four distinct types of the disease: dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, and restrictive cardiomyopathy. The specific manifestations of the disease are specific to the form of the disease being considered. The Four Types of Cardiomyopathy Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)
Dilated cardiomyopathy refers to a condition in which the heart muscle is enlarged, weakened and is unable to pump blood efficiently through the body. This inability of the heart muscles to properly pump the blood through the body often causes a build up of fluid in the lungs, resulting in a condition called "left heart failure." If fluid also begins to build up in the tissues and other organs of the body, as well, the body may also experience a condition known as "right heart failure." The primary symptom of dilated cardiomyopathy in the left heart failure stage is shortness of breath. The primary symptoms in the right heart failure stage are a collection of fluid in the legs, ankles, and abdomen. Some of the most common causes of this form of the disease include coronary heart disease, heart valve disease, hypertension, viral infections, endocrine disorders, diabetes, and excessive consumption of alcohol.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy refers to a condition where the heart muscle thickens, thereby interrupting the heart's natural rhythm. In people with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the left ventricle nearly always thickens, and in some patients, the right ventricle thickens as well. There are often no recognizable symptoms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, although some patients do experience shortness of breath, chest pain, heart palpitations, dizziness or blackouts. The cause of this form of cardiomyopathy is unknown.

Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC)
Arrhythmogenic right ventrical cardiomyopathy refers to a condition in which an electrical disturbance of the heart muscle affects the ventricles, causing them to lose their elasticity. As the name of the condition suggests, the right ventricle is more prominently affected than the left ventricle. Thin layers of fatty and fibrous scar tissue develop over in the heart muscle, replacing the elasticity with less pliable tissue, which affects the electrical system and causes arrhythmias. Symptoms of ARVC include heart palpitations, fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, and blackouts. The specific cause of this form of cardiomyopathy is unknown, but it has been determined to run in families.
Restrictive Cardiomyopathy (RCM)
Restrictive cardiomyopathy is a condition in which the walls of the ventricles of the heart become stiff, hampering the ventricles' ability to properly fill with blood, and causing the muscles of the heart to work overtime in order to compensate for the incomplete filling. RCM is the least common of the cardiomyopathies. Symptoms of restrictive cardiomyopathy include pressure in the heart, congestion in the lungs and liver, shortness of breath, swelling of the ankles, fatigue, and heart palpitations. There is no cure for RCM, and the treatments for the condition are generally aimed toward alleviating the symptoms associated with it. In some cases, the cause of this form of cardiomyopathy is unknown, while in others, it can be determined to be secondary to other illnesses, primarily cardiac, systemic, infiltrative, and metabolic disorders. RSM has also been suspected to develop following radiation therapy for cancer treatment, and has been seen to run in some families. If You Suspect You May Have Developed Cardiomyopathy
If you suspect you may be suffering from a form of cardiomyopathy, it is important that you see your doctor, who can arrange for you to see a cardiologist or an electro-physiologist. If you do have a form of cardiomyopathy, medication may be needed to regulate the function of the your heart or address some of the secondary symptoms of the disease.