Cardiomyopathy

Need to know

• What are the symptoms of cardiomyopathy? icon plus

  Symptoms of cardiomyopathy include:

  • extreme tiredness
  • rapid or fluttering heartbeat
  • chest pressure
  • dizziness or loss of consciousness
  • breathlessness while resting or moving around
  • swollen legs and ankles
  • a bloated stomach due to fluid build up

  These symptoms will get worse over time, if left untreated.

• How is cardiomyopathy diagnosed? icon plus

  Your consultant will discuss your symptoms with you and help to make a diagnosis. They may order further tests.

  • Electrocardiogram (ECG). This measures electrical impulses from your heart. It detects abnormal heart rhythms, which can cause cardiomyopathy.
  • Echocardiogram. This looks at heart muscle and valve function.
  • Cardiac MRI scan. This explores the extent of the damage and looks for abnormalities inside the heart muscle itself.
  • Cardiac catheterisation. A biopsy of your heart, which is taken through a catheter and sent for analysis.

• Potential treatment options icon plus

  There are many ways to manage cardiomyopathy.

  • Medication: this can improve your heart's ability to pump, remove excess fluid and lower blood pressure.
  • Implanted devices: these are surgically implanted and include pacemakers to control arrhythmia, and sometimes to improve heart muscle function. In severe cases, ventricular assist devices (VAD) may be used to support the heart.
  • Surgery: a heart transplant can be used in end-stage heart failure, and rarely, a septal myectomy can be used to remove portions of thickened heart muscle.