What is the main cause of cardiomyopathy?

Viral infections in the heart are a major cause of cardiomyopathy. In some cases, another disease or its treatment causes cardiomyopathy. This might include complex congenital (present at birth) heart disease, nutritional deficiencies, uncontrollable, fast heart rhythms, or certain types of chemotherapy for cancer.

What happens when you have cardiomyopathy?

In cardiomyopathy, the heart muscle becomes enlarged, thick, or rigid. In rare cases, the muscle tissue in the heart is replaced with scar tissue. As cardiomyopathy worsens, the heart becomes weaker. It’s less able to pump blood through the body and maintain a normal electrical rhythm.

What is the life expectancy of a person with cardiomyopathy?

The majority of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy have no symptoms and most have a near-normal life expectancy. In some cases, sudden cardiac death is the first symptom of the illness. Patients who have symptoms at a younger age often have higher mortality rates.

Is cardiomyopathy a serious heart condition?

Cardiomyopathy can lead to serious complications, including: Heart failure. Your heart can’t pump enough blood to meet your body’s needs. Untreated, heart failure can be life-threatening.

Is cardiomyopathy considered a terminal illness?

Over the last 10 years, there has been a realisation that heart failure (itself the final common pathway of several aetiologies such as hypertension, ischaemic and valvular heart disease, and cardiomyopathy) is a terminal illness.

Can you live a normal life with cardiomyopathy?

With proper care, many people can live long and full lives with a cardiomyopathy diagnosis. When recommending treatment, we always consider the least invasive approach first. Options range from lifestyle support and medications to implantable devices, procedures, and surgeries.

Can you fully recover from cardiomyopathy?

For example, patients with a very low ejection fraction can eventually completely recover from peripartum cardiomyopathy. Some patients recover only part of their heart function over a period of six months or longer. With others, the heart returns to full strength in as little as two weeks.

Can you fix cardiomyopathy?

There’s usually no cure for cardiomyopathy, but the treatments can be effective at controlling symptoms and preventing complications. Some types of cardiomyopathy have specific treatments and early diagnosis is very important. Not everyone with cardiomyopathy will need treatment.

Is cardiomyopathy the same as heart failure?

Heart failure can occur when the heart muscle is weak (systolic failure) or when it is stiff and unable to relax normally (diastolic failure). Cardiomyopathy, which means “disease of the heart muscle,” is one of many causes of heart failure.

What is cardiomyopathy and how serious is it?

Cardiomyopathy is an ailment of the heart muscle. It influences any age group and is a serious long-lasting condition. Cardiomyopathy is a heterogeneous group myocardium disease identified with mechanical and electrical dysfunction, which may make it

What is the life expectancy of cardiomyopathy?

Life Expectancy and Survival Rates. 5-year survival rate for Dilated cardiomyopathy: about 50 percent of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy live 5 years once heart failure is diagnosed; about 25 percent live 10 years after such a diagnosis.

How dangerous is cardiomyopathy?

Cardiomyopathy can lead to other heart conditions, including: Heart failure. Your heart can’t pump enough blood to meet your body’s needs. Untreated, heart failure can be life-threatening. Blood clots. Because your heart can’t pump effectively, blood clots might form in your heart.

What are interesting facts about cardiomyopathy?

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) Facts. This results in the heart needing more pressure than normal to fill, which can cause shortness of breath. Some people with HCM also suffer from obstruction to the outward flow of the blood from the heart, which may be associated with dizziness, fainting (syncope), or chest pain.