Cardiomyopathy

It is a disease of the heart muscle. It is a condition where the muscle of the heart is abnormal without an obvious cause. There are four main types of cardiomyopathy:

• Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)
• Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)
• Restrictive Cardiomyopathy (RCM)
• Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy (ARVC)

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy :
In HCM, also known as hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, the muscular walls of the heart become thickened which prevents the heart from filling up with blood properly and stops it being pumped from the heart.

Patients with this condition suffer from short of breath, experience chest pains and palpitations, and may often faint. The exact cause of HCM is unknown, although it’s usually inherited. Screening is offered to families of those with the condition to do the early prevention.

Dilated cardiomyopathy :
In DCM, the muscular walls of the heart become dilated. This causes the heart to become larger and the heart muscle weaker, making it unable to pump the blood normally. Symptoms of DCM include tiredness and shortness of breath while exercising or resting. People with this condition may also have heart palpitations, fainting episodes, chest pain and notice their ankles becoming swollen. It can affect people of any age; however it is more common between the ages of 20 and 60 but men are more at risk of developing.

Although it is not very clear about the causes but a viral or other infection of the heart, or part of an autoimmune process where, for an unknown reason, the body attacks itself. Extra usage of alcohol and drug misuse, and exposure to certain chemicals and pesticides, can cause the problem.

Restrictive cardiomyopathy :
Restrictive Cardiomyopathy is caused by stiffening of the heart muscles. It’s most common in the tropics, where it’s often due to scarring of the heart muscle that occurs for no apparent reason.

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy :
This condition occurs when heart muscle is damaged and is gradually replaced with fat and scar tissue. It is usually inherited and is more common in males. It mostly present in teenage and younger adult years.

With this condition the person may suffer palpitations, fainting, chest pain and shortness of breath, caused by abnormal electrical heart rhythms or weakening of the heart’s ability to pump.