Cardiomyopathy describes a group of conditions affecting the heart muscle. Each type of cardiomyopathy affects the muscle differently, causing it to stiffen, thicken or thin out. But they all affect the heart’s ability to pump blood.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as 1 in 500 Americans may have some type of cardiomyopathy. Patients experiencing cardiomyopathy in Central Kentucky can find expert care at the UK Gill Heart & Vascular Institute.
When the heart’s pumping is disrupted, it can lead to irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias), heart valve problems, heart failure and a backup of blood into the lungs or the rest of the body.
While many types of cardiomyopathy can occur, the main types are:
- Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy: Scar or fatty tissue in the right ventricle replaces the healthy muscle tissue.
- Dilated cardiomyopathy: Occurs when the ventricles (lower chambers of the heart) weaken and enlarge. Dilated cardiomyopathy can occur as ischemic cardiomyopathy or non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. Ischemic cardiomyopathy is a weak heart muscle due to blockages in the coronary arteries. Non-ischemic cardiomyopathy is a weak heart muscle due to intrinsic muscle problems (without blockage in coronary arteries).
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Causes the heart muscle to enlarge and thicken, which can block the ventricles.
- Restrictive cardiomyopathy: Occurs when the ventricles thicken but the walls of the heart do not, which does not allow the ventricles to relax and fill with blood.
Two additional but rare kinds of cardiomyopathy are peripartum cardiomyopathy, which occurs during pregnancy or a few months after giving birth, and takotsubo cardiomyopathy, also known as broken heart syndrome. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy occurs when intense, sudden or extreme stress causes the heart muscle to stop working. This can be life-threatening.
In some cases, those with cardiomyopathy do not have any symptoms. Symptoms are more likely to develop as the cardiomyopathy progresses.
Symptoms can include:
- Arrhythmias
- Chest pain
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Fatigue even after resting
- Heart murmurs
- Shortness of breath
If cardiomyopathy has caused heart failure, a person may also have swelling in the abdomen, hands, legs and feet.
While there is no cure for the disease, treatments can help slow the progression of cardiomyopathy and the development of other conditions, including heart failure.
In many cases, those who have cardiomyopathy and receive treatment can live out a normal life expectancy.
Cardiomyopathy may be inherited (passed down from your parents) or acquired.
In cases where cardiomyopathy is inherited, there is no way to prevent the condition. You can, however, take steps to control cardiomyopathy symptoms and lessen the risk of complications.
These same steps can help prevent acquired cardiomyopathy:
- Avoid drinking alcohol
- Eat a heart-healthy diet filled with fruits and vegetables
- Exercise regularly
- Find healthy ways to manage stress
- Don’t smoke or use tobacco products
- Take steps to manage health conditions such as high cholesterol and diabetes
Cardiomyopathy affects people of all ages, including young children. Certain factors raise the risk of developing the condition:
- Autoimmune diseases
- Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation
- Cocaine or amphetamine use
- Coronary artery disease
- Endocrine diseases, including diabetes and thyroid disorders
- Drinking alcohol excessively
- Family history of cardiomyopathy
- Infections of the heart muscle
- High blood pressure
- Intense or chronic stress
- Muscle conditions like muscular dystrophy
- Past heart attack
- Pregnancy
Your age can also impact your risk for cardiomyopathy, though each type is more common in certain age groups. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, for example, is more common in postmenopausal women.
As the area’s most advanced emergency department — and home to the UK Gill Heart & Vascular Institute — UK Albert B. Chandler Hospital is the preferred choice for patients experiencing emergency, life-threatening cardiac events. Whether you arrive by ambulance or are transferred from another hospital, you can rest assured that you are in the hands of the region’s most advanced interventional cardiology team.
By the time you get to the hospital via emergency transport, Emergency Medical Services or the team that facilitated your transfer will have shared your symptoms and any known diagnosis with our emergency department.
Patients experiencing heart attack symptoms bypass our emergency room and are taken to the cardiac catheterization lab to reduce the time it takes to start treatment. For heart patients taken to our emergency department, our team of emergency medicine doctors and interventional cardiologists are ready to provide imaging exams, bloodwork, additional tests or any needed emergency procedures.
Following emergency treatment, you may recover in our Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit before being transferred to your hospital room. Once you are ready to go home or to an inpatient rehabilitation hospital, you will be assigned a UK Gill Heart & Vascular Institute cardiologist for any ongoing care needed.
Our interventional cardiology team helps patients regain good heart health every day. We also participate in clinical trials to enhance interventional cardiology treatment and management in the future.
Our team engages in trials to investigate new advances. Because of this, you have access to the latest treatment options available.
If you’re a candidate for an ongoing trial, your care team will discuss this option with you.
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