How is cardiomyopathy treated

Diagnosis Your doctor will perform a physical examination and ask questions about your personal and family medical history. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Cooper LT. Definition and classification of the cardiomyopathies.

Accessed Feb. What is cardiomyopathy in adults? American Heart Association. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Jameson JL, et al. Cardiomyopathy and myocarditis. In: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. McGraw Hill; Long B, et al. American Journal of Emergency Medicine ; doi Giustino G, et al. This can be done during cardiac catheterization. The heart muscle is studied under a microscope to see whether changes in cells have occurred. These changes may suggest cardiomyopathy.

Some types of cardiomyopathy run in families. Thus, your doctor may suggest genetic testing to look for the disease in your parents, brothers and sisters, or other family members.

Genetic testing can show how the disease runs in families. It also can find out the chances of parents passing the genes for the disease on to their children. Genetic testing also may be useful if your doctor thinks you have cardiomyopathy, but you don't yet have signs or symptoms. If the test shows you have the disease, your doctor can start treatment early, when it may work best. People who have cardiomyopathy but no signs or symptoms may not need treatment.

Sometimes, dilated cardiomyopathy that comes on suddenly may go away on its own. For other people who have cardiomyopathy, treatment is needed. Treatment depends on the type of cardiomyopathy you have, the severity of your symptoms and complications, and your age and overall health.

Treatments may include:. Take all medicines regularly, as your doctor prescribes. Doctors use several types of surgery to treat cardiomyopathy, including septal myectomy, surgically implanted devices, and heart transplant.

Septal myectomy is open-heart surgery and is used to treat people who have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and severe symptoms. This improves blood flow through the heart and out to the body.

If needed, the surgeon also can repair or replace the mitral valve at the same time. Septal myectomy often is successful and allows you to return to a normal life with no symptoms.

Surgeons can place several types of devices in the heart to improve function and symptoms, including:. A heart transplant is a last resort treatment for people who have end-stage heart failure. For more information about this treatment, go to the Heart Transplant Health Topic. Doctors may use a nonsurgical procedure called alcohol septal ablation to treat cardiomyopathy. During this procedure, the doctor injects ethanol a type of alcohol through a tube into the small artery that supplies blood to the thickened area of heart muscle.

The alcohol kills cells, and the thickened tissue shrinks to a more normal size. This procedure allows blood to flow freely through the ventricle, which improves symptoms. Some people who have cardiomyopathy—especially those who have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy HCM —may live a healthy life with few problems or symptoms. Others may have serious symptoms and complications. If you have cardiomyopathy, you can take steps to take care of your heart.

Lifestyle changes and ongoing care can help you manage the disease. A healthy diet and physical activity are part of a heart healthy lifestyle. Your doctor can help you decide what kind of eating plan is right for you. Talk with your doctor about the amounts and types of fluids that are safe and healthy for you. Too much fluid can worsen certain heart conditions.

Your doctor also may suggest a diet that's low in sodium salt and fat. For more information about healthy eating, go to "How Is Cardiomyopathy Treated? Talk with your doctor about the amount and type of physical activity that's right for you. People who have HCM shouldn't do vigorous activity. However, moderate activity, such as walking, often is a good idea. If you have cardiomyopathy, it's important to get ongoing care. Call your doctor if you notice new or worsening symptoms, such as swelling in your ankles, feet, legs, abdomen, or veins in the neck.

These symptoms may be a sign that the disease is getting worse. Cardiomyopathy often runs in families. Your doctor may suggest that your parents, brothers and sisters, and children get checked to see whether they have the disease. To learn more about clinical trials at the NIH Clinical Center or to talk to someone about a study that might fit your needs, call the Office of Patient Recruitment Learn more about participating in a clinical trial.

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This workshop will bring together basic, translational, and clinical scientists in order to evaluate the state-of-t What Is - Cardiomyopathy. Overview The types of cardiomyopathy are: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy Dilated cardiomyopathy Restrictive cardiomyopathy Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia Unclassified cardiomyopathy Cardiomyopathy can be acquired or inherited.

Outlook Some people who have cardiomyopathy have no signs or symptoms and need no treatment. Types - Cardiomyopathy. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is very common and can affect people of any age.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy Dilated cardiomyopathy develops when the ventricles enlarge and weaken. Restrictive Cardiomyopathy Restrictive cardiomyopathy develops when the ventricles become stiff and rigid but the walls of the heart do not thicken.

Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia is a rare type of cardiomyopathy that occurs when the muscle tissue in the right ventricle is replaced with fatty or fibrous tissue. Unclassified Cardiomyopathy Other types of cardiomyopathy are grouped into this category and can include: Left ventricular noncompaction happens when the left ventricle has trabeculations, projections of muscle inside the ventricle.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, or broken heart syndrome, happens when extreme stress leads to heart muscle failure. Though rare, this condition is more common in post-menopausal women.

Other Names - Cardiomyopathy. Other Names for Dilated Cardiomyopathy Alcoholic cardiomyopathy. This term is used when overuse of alcohol causes the disease. Congestive cardiomyopathy. Diabetic cardiomyopathy. Familial dilated cardiomyopathy. Idiopathic cardiomyopathy. Ischemic cardiomyopathy.

This term is used when ischemic heart disease also called coronary artery disease or heart attack causes the disease. Peripartum cardiomyopathy. This term is used when the disease develops in a woman shortly before or after she gives birth. Primary cardiomyopathy. Other Names for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Asymmetric septal hypertrophy Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy Hypertrophic nonobstructive cardiomyopathy Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy Idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis Other Names for Restrictive Cardiomyopathy Idiopathic restrictive cardiomyopathy Infiltrative cardiomyopathy Other Names for Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy Right ventricular cardiomyopathy Right ventricular dysplasia.

Causes - Cardiomyopathy. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy usually is inherited. The extra iron is toxic to the body and can damage the organs, including the heart. Sarcoidosis : A disease that causes inflammation and can affect various organs in the body. Researchers believe that an abnormal immune response may cause sarcoidosis. Some cancer treatments, such as radiation and chemotherapy Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia Researchers think that arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia is an inherited disease.

Risk Factors - Cardiomyopathy. Major Risk Factors Certain diseases, conditions, or factors can raise your risk for cardiomyopathy. Major risk factors include: A family history of cardiomyopathy, heart failure , or sudden cardiac arrest SCA A disease or condition that can lead to cardiomyopathy, such as ischemic heart disease , heart attack , or a viral infection that inflames the heart muscle Diabetes or other metabolic diseases, or severe obesity Diseases that can damage the heart, such as hemochromatosis , sarcoidosis , or amyloidosis Long-term alcoholism Long-term high blood pressure Some people who have cardiomyopathy never have signs or symptoms.

Screening and Prevention - Cardiomyopathy. Your doctor may advise you to make heart-healthy lifestyle changes , such as: Avoiding the use of alcohol and illegal drugs Getting enough sleep and rest Heart-healthy eating Physical activity Quitting smoking Managing stress Your cardiomyopathy may be due to an underlying disease or condition.

Get regular checkups with your doctor. Take all of your medicines as your doctor prescribes. Signs, Symptoms, and Complications - Cardiomyopathy. These signs and symptoms include: Shortness of breath or trouble breathing, especially with physical exertion Fatigue tiredness Swelling in the ankles, feet, legs, abdomen, and veins in the neck Other signs and symptoms may include dizziness; light-headedness; fainting during physical activity; arrhythmias irregular heartbeats ; chest pain, especially after physical exertion or heavy meals; and heart murmurs.

Diagnosis - Cardiomyopathy. Specialists Involved Often, a cardiologist or pediatric cardiologist diagnoses and treats cardiomyopathy. Medical and Family Histories Your doctor will want to learn about your medical history. Physical Exam Your doctor will use a stethoscope to listen to your heart and lungs for sounds that may suggest cardiomyopathy.

Diagnostic Tests Your doctor may recommend one or more of the following tests to diagnose cardiomyopathy. Blood Tests During a blood test , a small amount of blood is taken from your body. Blood tests give your doctor information about your heart and help rule out other conditions.

This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Cardiomyopathy kahr-dee-o-my-OP-uh-thee is a disease of the heart muscle that makes it harder for your heart to pump blood to the rest of your body. Dilated cardiomyopathy Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Dilated cardiomyopathy Open pop-up dialog box Close. Dilated cardiomyopathy Compared with a normal heart, a heart with dilated cardiomyopathy has enlarged chambers of the heart, which can lead to heart failure if left untreated.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy Open pop-up dialog box Close. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy Illustrations of a normal heart left and a heart with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Enlarged heart, in heart failure Open pop-up dialog box Close. Enlarged heart, in heart failure As the heart weakens, as it can with heart failure, it begins to enlarge, forcing the heart to work harder to pump blood on to the rest of the body. Joelle's journey to a new heart Cardiomyopathy is a medical term for a number of genetic and nongenetic diseases involving the heart muscle that adversely affect the heart's mechanical pumping function and its electrical system.

Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Cooper LT. Definition and classification of the cardiomyopathies. Accessed Feb. What is cardiomyopathy in adults? American Heart Association. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Jameson JL, et al. Cardiomyopathy and myocarditis. In: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine.

McGraw Hill; Long B, et al. American Journal of Emergency Medicine ; doi