Below, you’ll find must-know information about cardiomyopathy.
Cardiomyopathy is a critical ailment that impacts the muscle of the heart, leading to its debilitation and enlargement. In this condition, the heart muscle becomes enlarged, thickened, or stiffened, which can lead to difficulty in pumping blood to the rest of the body.
This particular condition can impede the heart’s ability to circulate blood throughout the body, resulting in an array of health issues.
There are various types of cardiomyopathies, including dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and restrictive cardiomyopathy, among others.
The most prevalent type of cardiomyopathy is dilated cardiomyopathy. This particular type of cardiomyopathy results in impaired pumping capability because the heart becomes enlarged and feeble
The second most prevalent type of cardiomyopathy is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. It transpires when the heart muscle thickens irregularly, making it arduous for the heart to pump blood competently.
Restrictive cardiomyopathy arises when the heart muscle stiffens and becomes less capable of stretching and contracting, leading to compromised heart function.
The etiology of cardiomyopathy can be genetic in origin. Furthermore, other factors such as viral infections, alcohol overindulgence, and hypertension can also contribute to its development.
The probability of developing cardiomyopathy can be elevated by particular medical conditions, such as diabetes and thyroid dysfunctions.
Various risk factors, including age, gender, family history of the ailment, past cardiovascular afflictions, hypertension, and obesity, can also augment the susceptibility to develop cardiomyopathy.
If untreated, cardiomyopathy can result in an array of hazardous complications, such as heart failure, blood clotting, and abrupt cardiac arrest, which can sometimes culminate in a fatality.
Knowing the various symptoms of this particular disease could help the individual seek medical attention immediately. Below are the cardiomyopathy symptoms worth knowing about.
7. Chest Pain
Chest pain in hypertrophic or dilated cardiomyopathy often results from insufficient blood and oxygen supply to the heart muscle, a condition known as ischemia.
In addition, some forms of cardiomyopathy may involve abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) that also cause chest pain or discomfort.
Another possible cause of chest pain is pericarditis, which refers to the inflammation of the lining around the heart.
Furthermore, blood clots may form in the heart chambers of individuals with cardiomyopathy, leading to chest pain.
Finally, stress and anxiety can contribute to chest pain in some cardiomyopathy patients who fear experiencing a cardiac event.
6. Shortness Of Breath
Dilated cardiomyopathy can result in the ineffective pumping of blood by the heart, leading to fluid accumulation in the lungs and shortness of breath.
Pulmonary hypertension, characterized by increased blood pressure in the lungs, can also result from some types of cardiomyopathies, making it hard to breathe and causing shortness of breath.
Moreover, abnormal heart rhythms or arrhythmias can impede the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively, leading to shortness of breath.
The blood clots in this particular type of disease can also cause shortness of breath.
Since cardiomyopathy can also cause anemia, it results in a shortage of red blood cells that carry oxygen to the body’s tissues. This leads to shortness of breath.
5. Edema
Edema is another symptom in some types of cardiomyopathies. It can be caused by various factors. When the heart is unable to pump blood effectively, it can result in fluid buildup in the lower extremities and abdomen, leading to edema.
Kidney problems can also occur in some types of cardiomyopathies due to the heart’s decreased ability to pump blood effectively, resulting in fluid retention and edema.
Similarly, certain forms of cardiomyopathy can cause liver issues, such as cirrhosis or hepatitis, which can lead to fluid accumulation in the lower extremities and abdomen.
In addition, edema in the legs may be caused by venous insufficiency, where the veins cannot transport blood back to the heart efficiently.
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