
Medication
Mar 24, 2022 · The main goals of treatment include: Controlling your symptoms so that you can have a good quality of life Managing any medical conditions that caused the cardiomyopathy Preventing serious problems, such as sudden cardiac …
Procedures
Dec 29, 2014 · Treating hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can help control symptoms of chest pain and shortness of breath. More importantly, it can decrease the risk for sudden cardiac death. Usually this requires taking a beta blocker or calcium channel blocker. A medication to prevent abnormal heart rhythms may also be needed.
Nutrition
Mar 24, 2022 · Depending on the type of cardiomyopathy that you have, your heart muscle may become thicker, stiffer, or larger than normal. This can weaken your heart and cause an irregular heartbeat, heart failure, or a life-threatening condition called cardiac arrest. Some people have no symptoms and do not need treatment. Others may have shortness of breath, tiredness, …
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Mar 29, 2022 · Treating Primary Cardiomyopathy Treatment for primary cardiomyopathy typically involves starting and keeping a healthy way of life. This includes the following steps: 6 Eating a heart-healthy diet Boosting physical activity Reducing stress Limiting or avoiding alcohol Quitting smoking Medicine may be prescribed to control signs of sickness.
Can you be cured of cardiomyopathy?
Mar 22, 2022 · How is cardiomyopathy treated? Treatment varies depending on how damaged your heart is due to cardiomyopathy and the resulting symptoms. Some people may not require treatment until symptoms appear....
What is the normal life expectancy with mild cardiomyopathy?
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This test uses an extremely powerful magnet to create a picture of the inside of your body. The detail of this image can show inflammation and damage to your heart muscle, which can help diagnose takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Cardiac catheterization.
How to treat cardiomyopathy naturally?
What is the prognosis for cardiomyopathy?

What is the most common treatment for cardiomyopathy?
Treatment options for cardiomyopathyLifestyle changes. Stopping alcohol use. Monitoring salt intake.Medicines. Lower blood pressure. ... Surgically implanted device that helps maintain proper heart rhythm.Ablation procedure. Removes extra heart tissue to reduce thickening. ... Heart transplant (for a severely damaged heart)
What is cardiomyopathy and how is it treated?
The main types of cardiomyopathy include dilated, hypertrophic and restrictive cardiomyopathy. Treatment — which might include medications, surgically implanted devices, heart surgery or, in severe cases, a heart transplant — depends on the type of cardiomyopathy and how serious it is.
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.
Can cardiomyopathy disease be cured?
Is there a cure for cardiomyopathy? There is no cure for cardiomyopathy. However, you can control the condition or slow its progression. People who make healthy lifestyle choices and seek medical treatment can live a high quality of life with cardiomyopathy.Apr 28, 2021
What is the best drugs for cardiomyopathy?
Drugs that are used to treat heart failure and dilated cardiomyopathy include:Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. ... Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs). ... Sacubitril/valsartan (Entresto). ... Beta blockers. ... Diuretics. ... Digoxin (Lanoxin). ... Ivabradine (Corlanor). ... Blood-thinning medications (anticoagulants).Mar 31, 2021
Can you live a long 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.
Who is most at risk for cardiomyopathy?
As many as 1 of 500 adults may have this condition. Males and females of all ages and races can have cardiomyopathy. Dilated cardiomyopathy is more common in blacks than in whites and in males than in females. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is thought to be the most common inherited or genetic heart disease.
Is cardiomyopathy a death sentence?
Normally, when people look up cardiomyopathy, they're terrified by talk of a five-year life expectancy. That's nonsense. As long as you're diagnosed early, it's definitely not a death sentence.Jul 20, 2007
What are the stages of cardiomyopathy?
There are four stages of heart failure, named A, B, C and D.Heart Failure Stage A. Pre-heart failure, which means that you are at high risk of developing heart failure.Heart Failure Stage B. ... Heart Failure Stage C. ... Heart Failure Stage D.
Can cardiomyopathy be treated with medication?
Many medications are used to treat cardiomyopathy. Your doctor may prescribe medicines to: Lower your blood pressure. ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, beta blockers and calcium channel blockers are examples of medicines that lower blood pressure.Nov 17, 2020
How do you get a weak heart?
Most often, a weakened heart muscle is caused by coronary artery disease or heart attack, but faulty heart valves, long-standing high blood pressure, and genetic disease may also be to blame. And sometimes, more than one condition may play a role in your weakening heart.Jun 1, 2021
Can you exercise with cardiomyopathy?
Stay Active Daily light exercise is safe for most people with cardiomyopathy and heart failure and can help them to manage symptoms. Over time, it can reduce heart rate and blood pressure. Your NYU Langone heart specialist can recommend an exercise program that's right for you.
How to treat hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
Usually this requires taking a beta blocker or calcium channel blocker. A medication to prevent abnormal heart rhythms may also be needed.
What causes a thickening of the heart muscle?
an inherited condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy which causes a thickening of the heart muscle, especially the wall between the two ventricles. In severe cases, the extra muscle obstructs the passage of blood out of the heart and may cause fainting or even sudden death.
What is the term for a heart disease that causes a heart muscle to weaken?
Any heart disease in which the heart muscle (myocardium) weakens can be known as cardiomyopathy . This broad term covers many conditions, all of which result in injury to the heart muscle and impaired heart function. Cardiomyopathy often leads to heart failure.
Why is myocarditis dangerous?
Cardiomyopathy can be caused by: myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, often due to a viral infection or a chronic inflammatory condition such as lupus.
What test is used to diagnose cardiomyopathy?
Occasionally, a test called an endomyocardial biopsy is necessary.
What is the term for drinking too much alcohol?
drinking too much alcohol (alcoholic cardiomyopathy) can result from a lifetime of binge drinking or the cumulative effects of daily heavy drinking. invasion of heart muscle by abnormal cells or other material (restrictive cardiomyopathy ).
Why is it important to avoid strenuous exercise?
It's also important to avoid strenuous exercise because it can trigger an abnormal heart rhythm that can cause sudden cardiac death. Some individuals with cardiomyopathy benefit from the placement of a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator to maintain a steady heart rhythm.
What are the medicines that help prevent arrhythmias?
These medicines, called antiarrhythmics, help prevent arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats). Balance electrolytes in your body. Electrolytes are minerals that help maintain fluid levels and the acid-base balance in your body. Electrolytes also help muscle and nerve tissues work properly.
What is the best medicine to slow down your heart rate?
Beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, and digoxin are examples of medicines that slow the heart rate. Beta blockers and calcium channel blockers also are used to lower blood pressure. Keep your heart beating with a normal rhythm. These medicines, called antiarrhythmics, help prevent arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats).
What is a heart transplant?
Heart Transplant – In a heart transplant surgery, a person’s diseased heart is replaced with a healthy donor heart. A heart transplant is a last resort for people who have end-stage heart failure. (“End-stage” means that all other treatment options have been explored, without success.)
How to lower blood pressure?
Choose and prepare foods with little salt (sodium). Too much salt can raise your risk of high blood pressure. Studies show that following a Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan can lower blood pressure. Choose foods and beverages that are low in added sugar. Avoid drinking alcohol.
What are the goals of cardiomyopathy?
When treating cardiomyopathy, objectives include: Stopping the disease from getting worse. Managing any conditions that cause or contribute to the disease. Reducing complications and the risk of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) Controlling symptoms so that you can live as normally as possible.
Does dilated cardiomyopathy go away?
Sometimes, dilated cardiomyopathy that comes on suddenly may even go away on its own. In other instances, treatment is needed. Treatment hinges on a few factors: the type of cardiomyopathy, the severity of your symptoms and complications as well as your age and overall health.
Can you prevent cardiomyopathy?
You cannot prevent inherited types of cardiomyopathy. But you can take steps to lower your risk for conditions that may lead to (or complicate) cardiomyopathy, such coronary heart disease, high blood pressure and heart attack . Cardiomyopathy can be precipitated by an underlying disease or condition.
How many people have cardiomyopathy?
As many as 1 of 500 adults may have this condition. 6,7 Males and females of all ages and races can have cardiomyopathy. Dilated cardiomyopathy is more common in blacks than in whites and in males than in females. 5. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is thought to be the most common inherited or genetic heart disease.
What happens when cardiomyopathy occurs?
When cardiomyopathy occurs, the normal muscle in the heart can thicken, stiffen, thin out, or fill with substances the body produces that do not belong in the heart muscle. As a result, the heart muscle’s ability to pump blood is reduced, which can lead to irregular heartbeats, the backup of blood into the lungs or rest of the body, ...
What are the symptoms of cardiomyopathy?
Some people who have cardiomyopathy never have symptoms, while others may show signs as the disease progresses. These might include the following: 1 Shortness of breath or trouble breathing. 2 Fatigue. 3 Swelling in the ankles and legs. 4 Irregular heart beat or palpitations. 5 Syncope, the medical term for fainting or briefly passing out.
What is a family history of cardiomyopathy?
A family history of cardiomyopathy, heart failure or sudden cardiac arrest. Connective tissue disease and other types of autoimmune disease. Coronary heart disease or a heart attack. Diseases that can damage the heart, such as hemochromatosis, sarcoidosis or amyloidosis.
Is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy inherited?
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is thought to be the most common inherited or genetic heart disease. While this type of cardiomyopathy occurs at many ages, in children and young adults with this condition there may be no symptoms, yet they are at high risk of sudden cardiac death.
Can cardiomyopathy be acquired?
Cardiomyopathy can be acquired—developed because of another disease, condition, or factor—or inherited. The cause isn’t always known. The main types of cardiomyopathy include the following 1-4: Dilated: where one of the pumping chambers (ventricles) of the heart is enlarged. This is more common in males and is the most common form ...
Is a restrictive heart muscle inherited?
This is often inherited and more common in males. Restrictive: where heart muscle is stiff or scarred, or both. It can occur with amyloidosis or hemochromatosis, and other conditions. This is the least common type.
What is the term for a heart muscle that is too weak to pump blood?
Dilated cardiomyopathy. The most common form, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), occurs when your heart muscle is too weak to pump blood efficiently. The muscles stretch and become thinner. This allows the chambers of your heart to expand. This is also known as enlarged heart.
What is the term for a progressive disease of the heart muscle?
Cardiomyopathy is a progressive disease of the myocardium, or heart muscle. In most cases, the heart muscle weakens and is unable to pump blood to the rest of the body as well as it should. There are many different types of cardiomyopathy caused by a range of factors, from coronary heart disease to certain drugs.
What is the term for a condition where blood is not flowing through the heart?
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is believed to be genetic. It occurs when your heart walls thicken and prevent blood from flowing through your heart. It’s a fairly common type of cardiomyopathy. It can also be caused by long-term high blood pressure or aging.
What are the risks of cardiomyopathy?
Cardiomyopathy can affect people of all ages. Major risk factors include the following: 1 a family history of cardiomyopathy, sudden cardiac arrest, or heart failure 2 coronary heart disease 3 diabetes 4 severe obesity 5 sarcoidosis 6 hemochromatosis 7 amyloidosis 8 heart attack 9 long-term high blood pressure 10 alcoholism
When does cardiomyopathy occur?
Most of the following types of cardiomyopathy belong to one of the previous four classifications, but each has unique causes or complications. Peripartum cardiomyopathy occurs during or after pregnancy. This rare type occurs when the heart weakens within five months of delivery or within the final month of pregnancy.
Why does alcohol cause cardiomyopathy?
Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is due to drinking too much alcohol over a long period of time, which can weaken your heart so it can no longer pump blood efficiently. Your heart then becomes enlarged. This is a form of dilated cardiomyopathy.
What is it called when you have a heart muscle in the womb?
Diagnosis may occur at any stage of life. When cardiomyopathy affects a child, it’s called pediatric cardiomyopathy. If you have idiopathic cardiomyopathy, it means there’s no known cause.
Overview
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is an uncommon condition that has similar symptoms to a heart attack. Although the cause of takotsubo cardiomyopathy is not completely known, it may happen because of a sudden surge in adrenaline and other stress molecules in your body, possibly due to triggers like severe emotional stress or other health conditions.
Symptoms and Causes
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy mimics heart attacks, meaning it has many of the same symptoms. The most common symptoms include:
Diagnosis and Tests
Because takotsubo cardiomyopathy closely resembles a heart attack, caregivers usually rule out a heart attack using the same test results that help diagnose this condition.
Management and Treatment
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy doesn’t currently have a cure because the condition isn’t well understood. For now, treatment is very similar to that of a heart attack, especially early on. Time is critical with a heart attack, so medical providers start treating the symptoms even if they haven’t confirmed that you had a heart attack.
Prevention
Because the exact cause for this condition is unknown, it isn’t possible to prevent it. If you’ve had this condition in the past, your healthcare provider will likely advise you to watch for the return of any symptoms. About 10% of people who have this condition will ultimately have a recurrence.
Living With
If you have takotsubo cardiomyopathy, the best thing to do to take care of yourself is to take your medication and see your doctor as recommended.

Treatment
Clinical Trials
Lifestyle and Home Remedies
Preparing For Your Appointment
Specialist to consult
How Common Is Cardiomyopathy?
- The goals of cardiomyopathy treatment are to: 1. Manage your signs and symptoms 2. Prevent your condition from worsening 3. Reduce your risk of complications The type of treatment you receive depends on which type of cardiomyopathy you have.
Causes
- Explore Mayo Clinic studiestesting new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.
Symptoms
- These lifestyle changes can help you manage cardiomyopathy: 1. Quit smoking. 2. Lose weight if you're overweight. Ask your doctor what a healthy weight is for you. 3. Get regular exercise, but talk to your doctor first about the safest type and amount for you. 4. Eat a healthy diet, including a variety of fruits and vegetables and whole grains. 5. Use less salt (sodium). Aim for less than 1,5…
Treatment and Prevention
- If you think you may have cardiomyopathy or are worried about your risk, make an appointment with your primary care doctor. He or she may refer you to a heart specialist (cardiologist). Here's information to help you get ready for your appointment.
Pediatric Cardiomyopathy
Additional Resources
- Although the cause of cardiomyopathy is sometimes unknown, certain diseases or conditions can lead to cardiomyopathy. These include the following1-4: 1. A family history of cardiomyopathy, heart failure or sudden cardiac arrest. 2. Connective tissue disease and other types of autoimmune disease. 3. Coronary heart disease or a heart attack. 4. Diseases that can damage t…
References
- Some people who have cardiomyopathy never have symptoms, while others may show signs as the disease progresses. These might include the following: 1. Shortness of breath or trouble breathing. 2. Fatigue. 3. Swelling in the ankles and legs. 4. Irregular heart beat or palpitations. 5. Syncope, the medical term for fainting or briefly passing out.