Oak Valley Health’s patient education pages share the skills, knowledge, and habits patients and families need to know to cope with a daily health issue. We hope this information can influence patient behaviour to improve health outcomes and provide you with a sense of control and autonomy.
Learn more about the risks, causes, and treatment of cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy or heart failure is when the heart is weakened and unable to effectively pump blood around the body. As a result of the weakened pumping the rest of the body does not get the blood and oxygen it needs. This weakness can also lead to congestion in a person’s heart, lungs and other areas of the body (heart failure. Cardiomyopathy is classified into several types. The type of cardiomyopathy you have is determined by which part of your heart is affected and how it is affected.
Cardiomyopathy has 2 different types of causes:
Weakness caused by blockages in the heart: heart attack, inactivity, poor diet, obesity, genetics
Weakness with no blockages in the heart: caused by a virus, genetics, uncontrolled high blood pressure, uncontrolled diabetes, pregnancy, cancer treatments, alcoholism, recreational drug use, heart valve abnormalities, abnormal heart rhythm or rate, unknown cause
Lifestyle choices: smoking, alcohol use, sedentary lifestyle, recreational drug use
Uncontrolled medical conditions: high blood pressure, diabetes, irregular or fast heart rate
An ultrasound of your heart called an ECHO
Medication to:
Strengthen the heart
Decrease heart rate
Remove extra fluid from the body
Control high blood pressure
Lifestyle changes:
Reduce fluid and salt intake
Become more active with approval of doctor
Take medications as prescribed
Weigh self daily
Potential surgeries to treat :
Abnormal heart Rhythms with an implanted pacemaker or defibrillator
Blockage with an bypass surgery or angiogram
In severe cases a new heart is put in to replace the failing heart
Gained more than 4lbs in 2 days or 5lbs in 1 week
More short of breath than usual
Increased swelling in hands, legs, feet, abdomen
Hard to breath when you are lying flat
Needing more pillows under your head at night to sleep
Increased or new dizziness
* The earlier symptoms are identified, the better the outcomes of treatment can be
Chest pain that does not go away at rest or with medication
If you are struggling to breath
Shortness of breath that does not go away at rest
A fast or thumping heart rate that does not go away at rest
If you faint
If you have new confusion or difficulty thinking
* These symptoms are urgent, call 911 and get help immediately
