Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSeveritySymptomsTreatmentLiving With ItPreventionFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Severity
Symptoms
Treatment
Living With It
Prevention
Frequently Asked Questions
This article reviews what to expect when living with cardiomyopathy, including symptoms, treatment, and lifestyle considerations.
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How Serious Is Cardiomyopathy?
The heart is a muscular organ responsible for pumping blood throughout the body to supply oxygen and nutrients. Abnormal heart muscle can affect the heart’s ability to power this process.
Cardiomyopathy does not always cause symptoms. However, it commonly results inheart failure symptomsand can cause complications that include valvular problems,arrhythmias(heart rhythm issues), andsudden cardiac death.
Heart Failure
Heart failureis a chronic condition in which the heart does not fill or pump blood effectively, resulting in symptoms like shortness of breath and exercise intolerance.
These symptoms occur due to fluid overload (swelling, weight gain), a backup of blood in the lungs (shortness of breath) or the body (leg, testicular, or abdominal swelling), or poor output of blood to the rest of the body (fatigue, light-headedness).
Heart Failure StagesAccording to guidelines from the American Heart Association (AHA), the American College of Cardiology (ACC), and the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA), heart failure is classified into the following stages:Stage A: At risk for heart failure (no symptoms or abnormalities, but risk factors such ashigh blood pressure,diabetes, andobesityare present)Stage B: Also known as pre–heart failure (no symptoms present, but there is evidence of abnormal heart structure or function)Stage C: Heart failure symptoms presentStage D: Advanced heart failure
Heart Failure Stages
According to guidelines from the American Heart Association (AHA), the American College of Cardiology (ACC), and the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA), heart failure is classified into the following stages:Stage A: At risk for heart failure (no symptoms or abnormalities, but risk factors such ashigh blood pressure,diabetes, andobesityare present)Stage B: Also known as pre–heart failure (no symptoms present, but there is evidence of abnormal heart structure or function)Stage C: Heart failure symptoms presentStage D: Advanced heart failure
According to guidelines from the American Heart Association (AHA), the American College of Cardiology (ACC), and the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA), heart failure is classified into the following stages:
Valvular Problems
In one common form of cardiomyopathy, known asdilated cardiomyopathy, the heart’s chambers are enlarged.
The left ventricle is the main pumping chamber of the heart, receiving blood from the left atrium. The mitral valve separates these two chambers, opening at a specific time in the cardiac cycle to allow blood to flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle.
When the left ventricle becomes dilated, the mitral valve may not close completely, resulting in backward leakage of blood into the left atrium. This is known assecondary mitral regurgitation.
Similarly, when the right ventricle is dilated, thetricuspidvalve may leak, a condition known astricuspid regurgitation.
Arrhythmias and Sudden Cardiac Death
Cardiomyopathy can cause arrhythmias, or abnormal heart rhythms.
The heart has an electrical conduction system responsible for generating an electrical stimulus for the heart muscle to contract, resulting in a heartbeat. Normally, specialized pacemaker cells located in the left atrium initiate the heartbeat, which is known as sinus rhythm.
In cardiomyopathy, the heart’s abnormal muscle can lead to an abnormal generation or propagation of electrical impulses.
Cardiomyopathy is a risk factor for ventricular arrhythmias, such asventricular tachycardiaandventricular fibrillation, which can cause sudden cardiac death. This is whycardiologists(doctors who specialize in treating heart problems) recommend the placement of animplantable cardioverter defibrillator(ICD) in specific situations for some people with cardiomyopathy.
Cardiomyopathy Symptoms
Cardiomyopathy does not always cause symptoms, but when it does, it indicates a diagnosis ofheart failure. The following are some symptoms of heart failure:
Causes of Ischemic Cardiomyopathy (ICM) and How to Treat It
Cardiomyopathy Treatment
The goal of cardiomyopathy treatment is to prevent progression and sudden cardiac death and to manage symptoms.Treatment includes lifestyle modifications and medications. Additionally, ICD placement is recommended in some cases to prevent sudden cardiac death.
People with heart failure often requirediuretics, which remove salt and water from the body, to help manage fluid overload. Fluid overload is one of the body’s ways to compensate for heart failure. It leads to swelling, weight gain, and shortness of breath.
Other specific medical treatments may be recommended based on theejection fraction(measurement of heart strength) and symptoms.
The AHA/ACC/HFSA guidelines recommend specific guideline-directed medical therapy for heart failure, which have been shown to improve survival and decrease hospitalization and complications of heart failure. This includes a combination of some of the following medications:
Some other forms of cardiomyopathy, such ascardiac amyloidosis(when deposits of an abnormal protein form in the heart muscle) andhypertrophic cardiomyopathy(thickening of the heart muscle), have more specific treatments. Cardiologists can recommend a specific treatment plan.
Living With Cardiomyopathy
Anyone diagnosed with cardiomyopathy should pay attention to symptoms that could indicate heart failure, such as breathlessness, fatigue, and decreased exercise ability. Everyone should also:
Those with heart failure symptoms should take special care to do the following:
Staying Out of the HospitalPeople with heart failure may find themselves being hospitalized frequently due to the buildup of fluid. It’s very important to let your healthcare team know at the first sign of symptoms of fluid buildup, such as decreased exercise ability, breathlessness, and leg swelling. At earlier stages, this can typically be managed with changes in oral medication doses.
Staying Out of the Hospital
People with heart failure may find themselves being hospitalized frequently due to the buildup of fluid. It’s very important to let your healthcare team know at the first sign of symptoms of fluid buildup, such as decreased exercise ability, breathlessness, and leg swelling. At earlier stages, this can typically be managed with changes in oral medication doses.
Can Cardiomyopathy Be Prevented?
With some causes, such as genetic mutations, cardiomyopathy may be inevitable. But a significant proportion of cardiomyopathy cases are preventable.
For example, some of the most common causes of heart failure are high blood pressure and coronary artery disease, both of which are preventable. The ACC/AHA/HFSA guidelines recommend that those at risk for heart failure (stage A) do the following to help prevent it:
How to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease
Summary
Cardiomyopathy is a condition in which the heart muscle is abnormal in thickness, stiffness, or strength. Cardiomyopathy may cause no symptoms at first, but when symptoms start, they can lead to heart failure.
In addition to causing heart failure, cardiomyopathy can lead to heart valve problems, arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death. Treatment includes addressing any underlying causes, taking medications, and making lifestyle changes.
A Word From Verywell
Living with cardiomyopathy can result in significant symptoms that affect your quality of life and make daily activities difficult. Getting the physical and emotional support you need is important as you work with your healthcare provider to treat cardiomyopathy. In doing so, you may prevent progression into heart failure.
Life expectancy with cardiomyopathy varies based on many factors, including stage and class of cardiomyopathy, with life expectancy being lower for those with severe, symptomatic heart failure (stage D). A 2019 analysis showed that the overall five-year survival rate for people with heart failure was about 50%.Learn MoreHow Long Can You Live With Heart Failure?
Life expectancy with cardiomyopathy varies based on many factors, including stage and class of cardiomyopathy, with life expectancy being lower for those with severe, symptomatic heart failure (stage D). A 2019 analysis showed that the overall five-year survival rate for people with heart failure was about 50%.
Learn MoreHow Long Can You Live With Heart Failure?
Learn MoreHow Heart Failure Is Treated
Cardiomyopathy has many causes, and sometimes no cause can be identified. The most common causes of cardiomyopathy include high blood pressure, heart valve problems, and coronary artery disease.A cardiologist can help determine the cause of cardiomyopathy and treat heart failure.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Heart Association.What is cardiomyopathy in adults?American Heart Association.What is heart failure?Heidenreich PA, Bozkurt B, Aguilar D, et al.2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA guideline for the management of heart failure: Executive summary: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association joint committee on clinical practice guidelines.Circulation. 2022;145(18). doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000001062Nabauer M, Orban M.Treatment of tricuspid valve regurgitation: The future is now.JACC Cardiovasc Interv. 2021;14(1):51-53. doi:10.1016/j.jcin.2020.11.009Peichl P, Rafaj A, Kautzner J.Management of ventricular arrhythmias in heart failure: Current perspectives.Heart Rhythm O2. 2021;2(6):796-806. doi:10.1016/j.hroo.2021.08.007American Heart Association.Heart failure signs and symptoms.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About cardiomyopathy.American Heart Association.Cardiac rehab for heart failure.Jones NR, Roalfe AK, Adoki I, Hobbs FDR, Taylor CJ.Survival of patients with chronic heart failure in the community: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Eur J Heart Fail. 2019;21(11):1306-1325. doi:10.1002/ejhf.1594
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Heart Association.What is cardiomyopathy in adults?American Heart Association.What is heart failure?Heidenreich PA, Bozkurt B, Aguilar D, et al.2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA guideline for the management of heart failure: Executive summary: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association joint committee on clinical practice guidelines.Circulation. 2022;145(18). doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000001062Nabauer M, Orban M.Treatment of tricuspid valve regurgitation: The future is now.JACC Cardiovasc Interv. 2021;14(1):51-53. doi:10.1016/j.jcin.2020.11.009Peichl P, Rafaj A, Kautzner J.Management of ventricular arrhythmias in heart failure: Current perspectives.Heart Rhythm O2. 2021;2(6):796-806. doi:10.1016/j.hroo.2021.08.007American Heart Association.Heart failure signs and symptoms.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About cardiomyopathy.American Heart Association.Cardiac rehab for heart failure.Jones NR, Roalfe AK, Adoki I, Hobbs FDR, Taylor CJ.Survival of patients with chronic heart failure in the community: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Eur J Heart Fail. 2019;21(11):1306-1325. doi:10.1002/ejhf.1594
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Heart Association.What is cardiomyopathy in adults?American Heart Association.What is heart failure?Heidenreich PA, Bozkurt B, Aguilar D, et al.2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA guideline for the management of heart failure: Executive summary: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association joint committee on clinical practice guidelines.Circulation. 2022;145(18). doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000001062Nabauer M, Orban M.Treatment of tricuspid valve regurgitation: The future is now.JACC Cardiovasc Interv. 2021;14(1):51-53. doi:10.1016/j.jcin.2020.11.009Peichl P, Rafaj A, Kautzner J.Management of ventricular arrhythmias in heart failure: Current perspectives.Heart Rhythm O2. 2021;2(6):796-806. doi:10.1016/j.hroo.2021.08.007American Heart Association.Heart failure signs and symptoms.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About cardiomyopathy.American Heart Association.Cardiac rehab for heart failure.Jones NR, Roalfe AK, Adoki I, Hobbs FDR, Taylor CJ.Survival of patients with chronic heart failure in the community: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Eur J Heart Fail. 2019;21(11):1306-1325. doi:10.1002/ejhf.1594
American Heart Association.What is cardiomyopathy in adults?
American Heart Association.What is heart failure?
Heidenreich PA, Bozkurt B, Aguilar D, et al.2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA guideline for the management of heart failure: Executive summary: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association joint committee on clinical practice guidelines.Circulation. 2022;145(18). doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000001062
Nabauer M, Orban M.Treatment of tricuspid valve regurgitation: The future is now.JACC Cardiovasc Interv. 2021;14(1):51-53. doi:10.1016/j.jcin.2020.11.009
Peichl P, Rafaj A, Kautzner J.Management of ventricular arrhythmias in heart failure: Current perspectives.Heart Rhythm O2. 2021;2(6):796-806. doi:10.1016/j.hroo.2021.08.007
American Heart Association.Heart failure signs and symptoms.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About cardiomyopathy.
American Heart Association.Cardiac rehab for heart failure.
Jones NR, Roalfe AK, Adoki I, Hobbs FDR, Taylor CJ.Survival of patients with chronic heart failure in the community: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Eur J Heart Fail. 2019;21(11):1306-1325. doi:10.1002/ejhf.1594
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