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This progressive disorder that affects the lower chambers of the heart can be caused by many known diseases or can appear with no identifiable cause. The most common cause of dilated congestive cardiomyopathy in the United States is coronary artery disease which results in an inadequate supply of blood to the heart leading to permanent injury. The heart is forced to stretch in order to compensate for any lost pumping action but when this is no longer adequate dilated congestive cardiomyopathy is the result.
There are many different reasons a person can develope cardiomypathy. In some cases viral infections that weaken the heart muscle can cause dilated congestive cardiomypathy. This is most common with coxsackie virus B. Chronic hormone disorders such as thyroid disease and diabetes can eventually lead to this condition. Drugs, such as cocaine, alcohol and antidepressants will also create diseases that are identifiable causes of this progressive disorder. In the case of alcohol abuse, alcoholic cardiomyopathy can develope after as little as ten years of heavy alcohol abuse. In rare cases pregnancy, rheumatoid arthritis or other connective tissue diseases have been traced as the cause for dilated congestive cardiomyopathy. Sadly, around 70 percent of the people who are diagnosed with this disorder die within a period of five years after their symptoms begin. Women tend to survive twice as long as men and Caucasians survive twice as long as African Americans. In approximately 50 percent of the cases the deaths are sudden usually resulting after a bout of abnormal heart rhythms.
The symptoms of cardiomyopathy begin with a shortness of breath and the person will easily tire. If the disorder is the result of an infection the first symptom could be a sudden fever or flu like symptoms. Fluids will be retained in the abdomen and legs, sometimes even in the lungs. The blood pressure may be low or even normal and a heart sound or murmur may develope. A doctor will make his diagnosis based on a physical examination and the symptoms. The patient will be given and ECG to check the heart structure and an MRI. The technical name for the MRI is magnetic resonance imaging. These test will help the doctor to confirm his diagnosis but if there is any doubt a catheter may be placed into the heart to measure pressures. While the catheterization process is being done the doctor may also take a tissue sample to help detect the cause.
Once a diagnosis has been made of dilated congestive cardiomyopathy the doctor will recommend treatment. In some cases treating the cause, such as with alcohol abuse or infections, has been known to prolong the patients life. For infections the doctor will prescribe antibiotics and with alcohol abuse the only hope is for the person to abstain from alcohol. If the patient has coronary artery disease, chest pain may be present and the doctor may prescribe nitrate, calcium channel blockers or beta blockers to reduce the force of the hearts contractions. It is very important for a person with this disorder to get plenty of sleep, to rest often and to avoid stressful situations. This will help reduce the strain on the heart. Occasionally a patient will be given anticoagulant drugs to prevent the formation of blood clots. Cardiomyopathy is known as the most common reason for heart transplants.
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