Cardiomyopathy is a condition which affects the cardiac muscles, leading to weakening of the heart and affecting its pumping capacity to the rest of your body. Cardiomyopathy can either be hereditary or due to toxins, stress, or blockages in the blood vessels.
Dr Jyoti Kusnur, consultant interventional cardiologist, Manipal hospital, Goa, says, “The cardiac output (the amount of blood pumped by the heart per minute) decreases, as the heart is unable to pump oxygenated blood to the various parts of the heart because of cardiomyopathy.” The main symptoms of the condition include excessive fatigue or palpitation because of the shortage in blood supply.
Types of cardiomyopathy
There are several types of cardiomyopathies that can affect the heart muscle. These include dilated, hypertrophic, restrictive, arrhythmogenic, alcoholic and peripartum cardiomyopathy.
1. Dilated cardiomyopathy
Dr Kusnur says that dilated cardiomyopathy is the most common variant of cardiomyopathy. It is caused due to blockages in the coronary arteries, and the heart muscle becomes weak and dilated affecting its ability to contract and relax effectively to pump the required amount of blood.
According to Dr Pradeep G Nayar, interventional cardiologist, Fortis Malar Hospital, Chennai, “In dilated cardiomyopathy the lower chamber of the heart (the left ventricle) gets dilated usually due to a prior cardiac event like a blocked coronary artery leading to excess strain and pressure on the muscle forcing it to become loose and dilated and unable to ensure proper blood circulation”.
2. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Dr Kusnur explains that hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is where the heart muscle becomes thickened, and the heart is not able to pump blood properly due to excessive thickness.
She adds, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can be due to genetic disorders or in those with very high blood pressure. The symptoms are shortness of breath, especially while walking, dizziness and chest pain.
According to Dr. Nayar, “Whenever a person gets diagnosed with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, we also screen first degree relatives to see if they have it as well”.
3. Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
According to Dr Kusnur, “Restrictive cardiomyopathy is a rare type of cardiomyopathy in which there is deposition of amyloid (protein deposits) in the heart muscle. These deposits prevent the heart muscles from pumping blood through them properly”.
Dr Nayar explains that the heart needs to relax during the short intervals between the contraction so that it gets filled with blood that gets pushed or pumped when the muscle contracts and this gets repeated in a synchronized manner for proper blood circulation. However, restrictive cardiomyopathy prevents the heart from relaxing sufficiently to pump out the sufficient blood that is needed. This may result from inflammation or pericardium-related issues, such as chronic pericarditis. It may also arise from issues inside the muscle; some illnesses can impair the muscle’s ability to contract and relax. Consequently, it prevents the heart from pumping out enough blood, as the left ventricle cannot pump enough blood.
4. Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy
According to Dr. Kusnur, “Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy is a rare type of cardiomyopathy, usually a genetic condition”. In ACM, the fibrous tissues replace the heart muscle in the right ventricle. Those with valve problems, such as mitral valve disease, can develop arrhythmogenic diseases.
5. Peripartum cardiomyopathy
“Women who experience peripartum cardiomyopathy typically do so in the latter stages of pregnancy or immediately following delivery “, says Dr Kusnur. She adds that peripartum cardiomyopathy is also a rare type of cardiomyopathy affecting pregnant women.
She further adds, women who survive peripartum cardiomyopathy, we advise them to refrain from becoming pregnant again, as the incidence of recurrence of it is higher.
6. Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
Excessive alcohol consumption over long periods can cause dilation of cardiac muscle, thereby impairing heart function and blood circulation. According to Dr. Kusnur, “Too much alcohol consumption can damage the heart muscle”. People who consume alcohol can develop cardiac weakness, which can be dangerous for those who continue to consume alcohol.
She adds that those with a weak heart should abstain from alcohol as it is extremely toxic to a weak heart, along with refraining from smoking.
7. Tachycardia induced cardiomyopathy
Normally the heart beats between the ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute, while in those who experience tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy, the heartbeat is very high.
According to Dr Kusnur, “Persistent fast heartbeat over long periods can damage heart muscles and may lead to heart failure”.
Smokers are another group of people who are more susceptible to tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy.
8. Stress-induced cardiomyopathy
Stress-induced cardiomyopathy, also known as takotsubo cardiomyopathy, is usually triggered by severe emotional or physical stress that causes weakening of the heart muscle. The common symptoms of stress-induced cardiomyopathy are angina (chest pain) and shortness of breath.
