Cardiomyopathy Treatment in Dubai at Clemenceau Medical Center Hospital
Cardiomyopathy is a condition that affects the heart muscle known as the myocardium. The condition can produce scar tissue, which results in the patient’s heart getting stiffer, bigger, or thicker, hence resulting in an inadequate supply of blood to the rest of the body.
If left untreated, patient’s heart may deteriorate over time, and cardiomyopathy may result in heart failure. In severe cases, some cardiomyopathy patients may eventually require a heart transplant.
Types of Cardiomyopathy Disease
- Restrictive cardiomyopathy: This type prevents the heart from expanding and filling with blood between heartbeats because it stiffens and loses flexibility. Older people are the most frequently affected.
- Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia: This is a rare type of cardiomyopathy that occurs when the muscle in the lower right heart chamber (right ventricle) is replaced by scar tissue which can eventually cause cardiac rhythm problems.
- Unclassified cardiomyopathy: This includes other forms of cardiomyopathy.
- Dilated cardiomyopathy: The heart’s primary pumping chamber (the left ventricle) dilates (enlarges) and is unable to efficiently pump blood out of the heart.
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: This type results in abnormal heart muscle thickening, which makes the heart’s function more difficult. It mostly affects the heart’s main pumping chamber’s muscle (left ventricle).
Symptoms of Cardiomyopathy Disease
Signs and symptoms of cardiomyopathy include:
- Difficulty lying down to sleep
- Chest discomfort
- Dizziness
- Swelling of the legs, ankles, and feet
- Fainting
- Fatigue
- Rapid heartbeat
Diagnosis of Cardiomyopathy disease
If the doctor suspects that the patient could be having a heart condition, he/she may recommend the following diagnostic tests:
- Echocardiogram (ECG): This test uses sound waves to create an image of the patient’s blood flow and heartbeat.
- Cardiac CT: This involves the use of X-rays to make a video of the patient’s blood vessels and heart.
- Exercise stress test: This is used to test how the heart responds to extremely vigorous activity.
- Electrocardiogram (EKG): Used to record the heart’s electrical activity of the patient.
- Cardiac catheterization: Involves the use of a small tube/catheter that is inserted through a blood vessel to measure the patient’s blood flow and pressure.
- Ambulatory monitoring: The procedure is designed to track the patient’s heart rhythm.
- Myocardial biopsy: A small sample of the heart muscle is extracted from the patient for further analysis in the lab.
Treatment for Cardiomyopathy Disease
The ultimate goal of cardiomyopathy treatment is to control the symptoms and slow down the disease’s progression. Regular checkups are recommended so that close monitoring of the heart’s health is effective.
The following treatment options may be recommended:
- Devices to correct arrhythmias: Devices such as implantable cardiovascular defibrillators (ICDs) treat irregular heart rhythms and monitor one’s heartbeat.
- Medication: Certain heart medications can improve the patient’s blood flow and treat underlying conditions. The patient may be advised by his/her provider to use blood thinners.
- Surgery: Heart surgery might be recommended by the cardiologist if the patient has severe symptoms or underlying heart conditions. Surgery should be the last resort when all other options have failed.
- Devices to improve blood flow: For instance, during cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), the devices used will be beneficial in controlling the contractions between the left and right sides of the heart.
How to Reduce the Risk of Cardiomyopathy Disease
Preventing congenital (inherited) cardiomyopathy is difficult, however, one can control the risk of conditions that could result in cardiomyopathy disease by:
- Controlling blood pressure
- One should keep his/her cholesterol within recommended healthy ranges
- Taking medication as prescribed
- Managing underlying conditions such as diabetes
