Cardiomyopathy

What is cardiomyopathy ?
Any disorder that affects the heart muscle is called a cardiomyopathy.
Cardiomyopathy causes the heart to lose its ability to pump blood well. In some
cases, the heart rhythm also becomes disturbed. This leads to arrhythmias
(irregular heartbeats). There are many causes of cardiomyopathy, including:
alcohol abuse, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, viral infections and
certain medicines. (Johns Hopkings Medicine, 2019)

4 main kinds of Cardiomyopathy

1. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: thickened walls between the
lower chambers (ventricles) in the heart keep it from relaxing and
filling up with blood normally.
2. Dilated cardiomyopathy: usually begins when the muscle in the
lower left chamber stretches and thins, which makes the inside
become larger than it should be.
3. Arrhythmogenic right ventricle dysplasia: scar tissue replaces
muscle tissue in the lower right chamber of the heart
4. Restrictive cardiomyopathy: the lower chambers (ventricles)
stiffen, usually because scar tissue has replaced muscle tissue in
the heart.

Dilated cardiomyopathy Causes

- Diabetes
Dilated cardiomyopathy is a disease of the - Obesity
heart muscle that usually starts in your heart's - Heart rhythm
main pumping chamber (left ventricle). The problems
ventricle stretches and thins (dilates) and can't - High blood pressure
pump blood as well as a healthy heart can. - Complications of
late-stage pregnancy
Over time, both ventricles may be affected. The - Excessive iron in
term "cardiomyopathy" refers to diseases that your heart and other
affect the heart muscle itself. organs
- Alcohol abuse
Dilated cardiomyopathy might not cause - Use of certain cancer
symptoms, but for some people it can be life- medications
threatening. It's a common cause of heart - Use of illegal drugs,
such as cocaine or
failure. Dilated cardiomyopathy can also lead amphetamines
to irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias), blood - Exposure to toxins,
clots or sudden death. such as lead, mercury
and cobalt

What would happen if blood clots

form in a person's heart and enter
The ventricle is stretched and narrowed
(dilated), so it can't pump blood in the same
way a healthy heart can. Over time, both
ventricles may be affected. The body of this
person will have fatigue, shortness of breath,
decreased ability to exercise, swelling, chest
pain, or feel like their heart is beating fast,
fluttering or pounding. But one of the
complications is blood clots. Stagnant blood in
the left ventricle can lead to blood clots, which
can enter the bloodstream and cut off blood
flow to vital organs. These blood clots can
cause a stroke, heart attack, or damage to
other organs (Mayo Clinic, 2018).
the bloodstream?
If blood clots start to form in the
bloodstream of a person's heart then this
person will be diagnosed with dilated
cardiomyopathy. Then this will happen
because blood will circulate more slowly
through an enlarged heart and therefore
blood clots can form easily. These clots
can break loose and travel through the
bloodstream to the lungs (pulmonary
embolism) or block a blood vessel in the
brain or heart (Texas Heart Institute,
2020).

Sources:
- Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2021,
March 31). Dilated cardiomyopathy. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved
from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dilated-
cardiomyopathy/symptoms-causes/syc-
20353149#:~:text=Dilated%20cardiomyopathy%20is%20a%20
disease,both%20ventricles%20may%20be%20affected.
- Cardiomyopathy: What You Should Know. Pennmedicine.org.
(2017, April 19). Retrieved from
https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/heart-and-
vascular-blog/2017/april/cardiomyopathy-what-you-should-
know
- Venous thromboembolism (VTE) related deaths in the last 5 to
10 years. Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) related deaths in the
last 5 to 10 years - Office for National Statistics. (2021, March
11). Retrieved from
https://www.ons.gov.uk/aboutus/transparencyandgovernanc
e/freedomofinformationfoi/venousthromboembolismvterelated
deathsinthelast5to10years
- Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2021,
March 31). Dilated cardiomyopathy. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved
from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dilated-
cardiomyopathy/symptoms-causes/syc-
20353149#:~:text=Dilated%20cardiomyopathy%20is%20a%20
disease,both%20ventricles%20may%20be%20affected.
-Cardiomyopathy. Johns Hopkins Medicine. (2019). Retrieved
from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-
and-
diseases/cardiomyopathy#:~:text=Any%20disorder%20that%2
0affects%20the,to%20arrhythmias%20(irregular%20heartbeat
s).
- Dilated cardiomyopathy. Texas Heart Institute. (2020,
September 30). Retrieved from
https://www.texasheart.org/heart-health/heart-information-
center/topics/dilated-cardiomyopathy/