Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy is a disease that affects your myocardium (heart muscle). Cardiomyopathy can make your heart stiffen, enlarge or thicken and can cause scar tissue. As a result, your heart can’t pump blood effectively to the rest of your body.

In time, your heart can weaken and cardiomyopathy can lead to heart failure. Treatment can help. Some people with cardiomyopathy eventually need a heart transplant.

Types of cardiomyopathy

Types of cardiomyopathy include:

Dilated cardiomyopathy.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Ischemic cardiomyopathy.
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD).
Restrictive cardiomyopathy.
Transthyretin amyloidosis cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM).
Broken heart syndrome (stress-induced or takotsubo cardiomyopathy).
Chemotherapy-induced cardiomyopathy.
Alcohol-induced cardiomyopathy.
Left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC).
Peripartum cardiomyopathy.

How common is cardiomyopathy?

Cardiomyopathy can affect anyone of any age, sex or race. The most common inherited cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic, affects about 1 in 500 people in the world. Other genetic types occur in 1 in 2,000 or 2,500 people.

Symptoms

When to see a doctor

Request an appointment

Complications

Blood clots are a dangerous complication of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Blood clots can lead to stroke.

The risk of stroke from AFib increases as you grow older. Other health conditions also may increase the risk of a stroke due to AFib. These conditions include:

High blood pressure.
Diabetes.
Heart failure.
Some types of heart valve disease.

Blood thinners are commonly prescribed to prevent blood clots and strokes in people with atrial fibrillation.

Prevention

Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of heart disease and may prevent atrial fibrillation (AFib). Here are some basic heart-healthy tips:

Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
Don't smoke or use tobacco.
Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Reduce and manage stress.

By Freedmans Health Clinic Staff

Living with atrial fibrillation?

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