Essay On Cardiomyopathy

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WHAT IS A CARDIOMYOPATHY?
Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle, causing the heart muscle to become enlarged, thick or rigid. In rare cases, the muscle tissue in the heart is replaced with scar tissue.

As cardiomyopathy worsens, the heart becomes weaker. It 's less able to pump blood through the body and maintain a normal electrical rhythm. This can lead to heart failure and rhythm problems. In turn, heart failure can cause fluid to build up in the lungs, ankles, feet, legs or abdomen. WHAT CAUSES CARDIOMYOPATHY?
The different types of the disease have different causes, signs, symptoms and outcomes.
Cardiomyopathy can be acquired or inherited. "Acquired" means you weren 't born with the disease but you developed it due to another disease, condition or factor. "Inherited" means your parents passed the gene for the …show more content…

Right entricular dysplasia. (National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute)
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS Dilated cardiomyopathy may build up over several years and not cause significant problems. However, over time the enlarged heart gradually weakens. This is called heart failure. Heart failure has several causes and cardiomyopathy is one of them.
Signs and symptoms of heart failure include:
Fatigue
Weakness
Shortness of breath
Coughing particularly when lying down
Swelling of your legs and feet, as a result of fluid building up - this may also affect other parts of your body
Weight gain due to body retaining fluid
Irregular heartbeats, which can be serious and sometimes life threatening. HOW IS CARDIOMYOPATHY DIAGNOSED?
Most people with symptoms related to the function of the heart will have an electrocardiogram (ECG), chest x-ray and echocardiogram (Echo), which allows the structure and function of the heart to be examined.

Some blood tests may also be required. From these tests, the diagnosis of cardiomyopathy can be made. HOW IS CARDIOMYOPATHY

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