How Serious Is Dilated Cardiomyopathy?
Dilated cardiomyopathy is a serious condition because it increases the chances of life-threatening conditions, such as heart failure, irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias), and blood clots. Dilated cardiomyopathy is the most common type of cardiomyopathy. In this condition, the walls of the heart become thin and the heart gets larger. As a result, the heart may not be pumping as well as it should. This can cause severe problems for the rest of the body including death. It can also make existing heart problems worse. It affects men more often than women and tends to occur in adults aged 20 to 60 years old. The common signs and symptoms of dilated cardiomyopathy are:
- Shortness of breath
- Cough
- Unexplained tiredness
- Reduced ability to exercise
- Lack of energy
- Chest pain
- Fluid build-up in the lungs
- Swollen feet or ankles or unexplained weight gain
- Heart skipping beats, fluttering or thumping
- Unusual heart sounds (heart murmurs)
- Fainting, dizziness, or lightheadedness
- Swelling of the veins of the neck
- Swelling in the belly (abdomen) with less appetite
What are the causes of dilated cardiomyopathy?
The causes of dilated cardiomyopathy are unknown; however, the following are common risk factors that may cause or trigger dilated cardiomyopathy:
- Congenital (by birth or sometimes inherited through genes)
- Severe coronary artery disease, which is the most common cause
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Amphetamines and Cocaine drugs use or abuse
- History of heart attack
- Severe alcohol abuse
- Swelling of the heart's walls
- Lack of oxygen in the heart
- Heart valve disease
- Cancer and chemotherapy drugs
- Disturbances of the heart's rhythm or rate
- Autoimmune illnesses
- Infections, including those caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites
- Exposure to toxins, such as lead, mercury, and cobalt
- Complications of late-stage pregnancy
What are the treatment options for dilated cardiomyopathy?
Treatment options for dilated cardiomyopathy are lifestyle modifications, medications, and surgery.
Lifestyle modifications:
- It starts with minimizing alcohol intake, smoking cessation, minimizing salt in the diet, and reducing caffeine intake.
- A balanced diet with moderate exercise may help in reducing symptoms by maintaining body weight and increasing the heart functioning mechanism.
Medications:
