This article reviews what to expect when living with cardiomyopathy, including symptoms, treatment, and lifestyle considerations.
Jochen Tack / Getty Images
How Serious Is Cardiomyopathy?
The heart is a muscular organ responsible for pumping blood throughout the body to supply oxygen and nutrients.
Jochen Tack / Getty Images
Abnormal heart muscle can affect the heart’s ability to power this process.
Cardiomyopathy does not always cause symptoms.
The left ventricle is the main pumping chamber of the heart, receiving blood from the left atrium.
This is known assecondary mitral regurgitation.
Similarly, when the right ventricle is dilated, thetricuspidvalve may leak, a condition known astricuspid regurgitation.
Arrhythmias and Sudden Cardiac Death
Cardiomyopathy can cause arrhythmias, or abnormal heart rhythms.
In cardiomyopathy, the heart’s abnormal muscle can lead to an abnormal generation or propagation of electrical impulses.
Additionally, ICD placement is recommended in some cases to prevent sudden cardiac death.
Fluid overload is one of the body’s ways to compensate for heart failure.
It leads to swelling, weight gain, and shortness of breath.
Other specific medical treatments may be recommended based on theejection fraction(measurement of heart strength) and symptoms.
Cardiologists can recommend a specific treatment plan.
At earlier stages, this can typically be managed with changes in oral medication doses.
Can Cardiomyopathy Be Prevented?
With some causes, such as genetic mutations, cardiomyopathy may be inevitable.
But a significant proportion of cardiomyopathy cases are preventable.
Cardiomyopathy may cause no symptoms at first, but when symptoms start, they can lead to heart failure.
Treatment includes addressing any underlying causes, taking medications, and making lifestyle changes.
In doing so, you may prevent progression into heart failure.
A 2019 analysis showed that the overall five-year survival rate for people with heart failure was about 50%.
This is known as heart failure with improved ejection fraction.
AHA/ACC/HFSA guidelines recommend continuing heart failure treatment in this case to prevent relapse.
Cardiomyopathy has many causes, and sometimes no cause can be identified.
American Heart Association.What is cardiomyopathy in adults?
American Heart Association.What is heart failure?
2022;145(18).
doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000001062
Nabauer M, Orban M.Treatment of tricuspid valve regurgitation: The future is now.JACC Cardiovasc Interv.
2021;2(6):796-806. doi:10.1016/j.hroo.2021.08.007
American Heart Association.Heart failure signs and symptoms.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About cardiomyopathy.
American Heart Association.Cardiac rehab for heart failure.
2019;21(11):1306-1325. doi:10.1002/ejhf.1594
