Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy is a family of diseases that affect the heart muscle: "cardio" means heart, "mine" means muscle and "patia" means disease. It is not a specific disease, but a group of diseases that affect the structure of the heart and reduce its ability to pump blood throughout the body.
Cardiomyopathy can have different causes depending on the type of cardiomyopathy. However, in many cases it is a genetic condition that can be passed down in the family. Here you can find more in-depth information on genetic cardiomyopathy.
Cardiomyopathy can stiffen, enlarge, or thicken the heart and can generate scar tissue in the tissue. As a result, the heart cannot pump blood effectively to the rest of the body.
The most common types of cardiomyopathy are:
- Dilated cardiomyopathy: The blood pumping chambers in the heart widen (dilate).
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: the heart muscle thickens.
- Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy: the disease causes irregular heart rhythms.
Treatment
Treatment for cardiomyopathy can include medications, lifestyle changes, or even surgery. Although there is no definitive cure for cardiomyopathy, one can manage the symptoms and live with the disease. People who are properly cared for can experience a high quality of life.
The most common symptoms of Cardiomyopathy
Some people who have cardiomyopathy may not even experience signs or symptoms, while others may not experience them in the early stages of the disease. Common symptoms of cardiomyopathy include:
- Wheezing
- Fatigue
- Swelling in the ankles, feet, legs and abdomen
- Dizziness
- Fainting during physical activity
- Arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeats)
- Chest pain, especially after physical exertion
Talk to your doctor
Having an early diagnosis can give you the protection you need to live safely with this condition and minimize the risks of sudden cardiac death. Talk to your doctor if you feel exhausted, short of breath, dizziness or palpitations, chest pain or swollen legs…. And tell your doctor about your family history of heart disease or sudden juvenile deaths with no apparent cause, usually attributed to a heart attack, because cardiomyopathy is often familial and it's important to protect loved ones who may not even have symptoms.
So if you think something is wrong, get help and get to the heart of the matter.
The Cardiomyopathy Awareness Campaign
Aicarm Onlus participates in the Cardiomyopathy awareness campaign promoted by the organization's Cardyomyopathy Patient Council Global Heart Hub to which our association is also affiliated. The campaign takes place from 20 to 26 June 2022 on all the social media of Aicarm Onlus, help us share the contents and we help people who feel symptoms, or have a family member, to go to the HEART of the matter!
#CardiomyopathyAwareness #GetToTheHeartOfIt #Go to the heart of the question #CardiomyopathyConscious #aicarm Global Heart Hub