- LC&VA
Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy is a cardiac condition that affects the muscle within the heart, making it harder to pump blood around the body. In some cases cardiomyopathy can lead to heart failure.

There are three different types of cardiomyopathy. This includes:
Dilated cardiomyopathy
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Restrictive cardiomyopathy
The treatment options available to a patient will differ depending on the type of cardiomyopathy they have and the severity. Typically, the treatment options can include medication, surgically implanted devices and in rare cases a heart transplant.
In the early stages of the disease symptoms may not be present, however as it gets worse patients will often report of:
Breathlessness (during activity or even rest)
Swelling in the lower limbs (legs, ankle and feet)
Bloat in the abdomen (this is caused by a build-up of fluid)
Fatigue
Coughing (when laying down)
Dizziness and/or fainting
Chest pain
Rapid heart beat
If you are experiencing these symptoms it is important that you seek treatment to prevent you condition from getting worse. Some patients will notice that their symptoms develop slowly over time whereas others may notice that they come on quickly.
In many cases the cause of cardiomyopathy is unknown, however sometimes it is brought on by another heart condition or inherited (passed down by one of the parents).
Here are some of the contributing factors associated cardiomyopathy:
Long term high blood pressure
Damage from a heart attach
Heart valve problems
Pregnancy
Drug and alcohol abuse
Infections
Inflammation of the heart
Connective tissue disorders
Covid-19 complications
To diagnose cardiomyopathy, you will need to tell your doctor the symptoms you are experiencing and yours and your family’s medical history. To help with a clear diagnosis they may also refer you to have additional tests.
The first treatment options are likely to conservative (not surgery). This can include:
Septal myectomy – using alcohol a small portion of the thick heart wall is destroyed to allow the blood to flow properly.
Radiofrequency ablation – this helps to remove the section of tissue that is causing the issue.
If these techniques are unsuccessful then it is likely that the patient will need to have open heart surgery to remove the thickened hear tissue
This article is intended to inform and give insight but not treat, diagnose or replace the advice of a doctor. Always seek medical advice with any questions regarding a medical condition.