Cardiomyopathy of the heart in adults
Cardiomyopathy is a very dangerous disease. It changes the structure of the muscle tissue of the heart, makes it weak, blood is pumped less efficiently. How to recognize this disease and how to treat it – let’s find out together with an expert

What is cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathies are diseases of the heart muscle, which, based on pathological signs, are divided into 3 main types:

  • hypertrophic;
  • dilatational;
  • restrictive.

All of them have similar features, but for an easier understanding of the essence of the disease, generalized information can be given.

Cardiomyopathy is often genetically determined. To date, more than 20 genes have been identified that are the cause of the development of this pathology. For this disease, there is no clear relationship with the geographical environment, ethnicity or gender.

This is practically the only cardiovascular disease that can manifest itself at any age: from infancy to old age. At the same time, the average age of patients at the time of diagnosis is 30-40 years, that is, people of working age are most vulnerable.

“The pathological effect on the body occurs due to the fact that myocardial ischemia develops, the contractile function of the heart worsens, various arrhythmias occur, which ultimately leads to the development of chronic heart failure,” says cardiologist Irina Polyaeva.

Causes of cardiac cardiomyopathy in adults

The origin of this pathology is still not fully understood. There are a number of reasons that can cause cardiomyopathy:

  • genetic predisposition;
  • transferred viral infections;
  • transferred myocarditis.

Symptoms of heart cardiomyopathy in adults

The cardiologist notes that there are no specific symptoms for this disease. The disease begins to manifest itself when various systems of the body are involved in the pathological process.

Clinical manifestations of cardiomyopathy in young and old age have significant differences. The younger the patient, the more severe the disease can be.
Irina PolyaevaCardiologist

In the initial stages, the disease can proceed without any symptoms. In later stages, patients most often report the following complaints:

  • dyspnea;
  • decreased exercise tolerance;
  • a variety of pain in the chest, up to the development of myocardial infarction;
  • heart rhythm disturbances (interruptions, palpitations);
  • dizziness;
  • episodes of loss of consciousness.

Treatment of cardiac cardiomyopathy in adults

The point of treating cardiomyopathy is to prevent life-threatening complications. If the patient’s condition is stable, then he is simply under the supervision of a cardiologist. If there is severe heart failure, then planned hospitalization is required.

Diagnostics

– Diagnosis includes various laboratory instrumental methods of examination, says cardiologist Irina Polyaeva. – In addition to standard blood tests, the doctor may prescribe the following examinations, depending on the clinical situation:

  • ECG (in 12 leads) to detect heart rhythm and conduction disorders, myocardial ischemia;
  • XNUMX-hour (Holter) monitoring (HMECG) – it is recommended for all patients, including those who do not have any symptoms (in order to detect heart rhythm disturbances);
  • ECHOCG study – to assess the anatomy and work of the heart;
  • MRI of the heart with contrast – to clarify the data of echocardiography;
  • CT of the heart – in addition to the anatomical data of the heart, it also allows you to visualize the arteries of the heart, assess their patency and anatomical features.

But the final examination plan is determined by the doctor at the face-to-face appointment, depending on the clinical situation.

Modern treatments

Treatment for cardiomyopathy includes:

  • drug therapy;
  • endovascular interventions – implantation of intracardiac devices;
  • surgical methods – they are indicated in certain situations when correction of the size of the heart muscle is necessary (reduction of the interventricular septum) or prosthetic heart valves are performed;
  • heart transplant – performed at later stages.

Drug therapy generally improves symptoms and prevents complications of the disease. Depending on how exactly the disease manifests itself, and what concomitant diseases, treatment is selected:

  • angina pectoris;
  • heart rhythm disturbances;
  • heart failure;
  • prevention of thromboembolic complications;
  • correction of blood pressure, glycemia and blood lipids, says the doctor.

Prevention of cardiac cardiomyopathy in adults at home

There are no preventive measures for cardiomyopathy, but there are a few recommendations:

  • healthy lifestyle;
  • physical education;
  • quitting smoking and drinking alcohol;
  • regular visits to the doctor and the passage of recommended studies.

Popular questions and answers

Answered the typical questions of patients about cardiomyopathy cardiologist Irina Polyaeva.

What are the possible complications of cardiac cardiomyopathy?

For all types of cardiomyopathies, a characteristic complication is progressive heart failure.

In addition, they may develop:

● thromboembolism;

● violations of the conduction of the heart, which may be manifested by a low pulse and loss of consciousness;

● severe forms of arrhythmias.

Can death occur with cardiomyopathy of the heart?

In cardiomyopathy, the risk of sudden cardiac death is very high. Annual mortality rates from cardiovascular causes in adult patients with cardiomyopathy are approximately 1–2%. Typically, the cause is sudden cardiac death, which occurs due to electrical instability of the heart and leads to the development of complex and dangerous arrhythmias.

Sudden cardiac death can occur with any variant of the course of cardiomyopathy, including without previous symptoms. Most often occurs in young patients under 35 years of age, including athletes.

When to call a doctor at home for cardiomyopathy of the heart?

An ambulance should be called immediately if at least one of the following conditions is detected:

● severe and sudden shortness of breath;

● a sharp drop in blood pressure;

● intense pain in the chest;

● attack of loss of consciousness;

● pale skin and cold, clammy sweat;

● feeling of a strong heartbeat, “fluttering” in the chest.

Is it possible to treat cardiomyopathy of the heart with folk remedies?

From the foregoing, it can be seen how complex and individual the treatment of cardiomyopathies is, so the use of folk remedies is not only ineffective, but also dangerous to health, because. may lead to disease progression and complications.

What general advice can be given to patients?

General advice for patients with cardiomyopathy is:

● avoid competitive sports, but if possible, maintain low to moderate intensity physical activity, in accordance with the recommendations of the cardiologist;

● maintain a normal body weight so as not to increase the load on the heart;

● avoid taking a large amount of food – this can cause pain in the chest, so frequent fractional meals are advisable;

● should be aware of the effect of drugs taken on sexual activity (some drugs may suppress it), some patients should avoid taking phosphodiesterase inhibitors (Viagra).

Most patients with this disease can get a driver’s license and continue to drive if they do not have a disability. In addition, most patients can travel safely by air.

Leave a Reply