Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle that makes it harder for your heart to pump blood to the rest of your body, which lead to heart failure. The main types of cardiomyopathy include dilated, hypertrophic, restrictive & arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia. Dilated and restrictive are the most common forms of cardiomyopathy.
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What is dilated cardiomyopathy?
Dilated cardiomyopathy results from extensively damaged myocardial muscle fibers. The disorder interferes with your hearts metabolism and caused great dilation of all four chambers of the heart. This gives the heart a globular appearance and shape. Dilated cardiomyopathy usually isn’t diagnosed until it has reached an advanced stage.
What are the signs & symptoms?
(Dilated Cardiomyopathy)
The primary signs and symptoms of dilated cardiomyopathy are:
- Shortness of breath (perhaps severe at night)
- Fatigue
- Dry cough at night (caused by left-sided heart failure)
- Irregular pulse (if atrial fibrillation exists)
- Heart murmur (Pansystolic)
- Peripheral cyanosis (Discoloration of hands and/or feet)
- Peripheral edema (swelling of limbs)
What is restrictive cardiomyopathy?
Restrictive cardiomyopathy is characterized by restricted ventricular filling (the result of left ventricular muscle swelling, hypertrophy) and endocardial fibrosis & thickening.
What are the signs & symptoms?
(Restrictive Cardiomyopathy)
The primary signs and symptoms of restrictive cardiomyopathy are:
- Fatigue
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breathe
- Edema
- High systemic and pulmonary venous pressure
- Liver engorgement
- Abdominal distention
- Palpitations
