A 52-year-old member asked:
Is there a difference between alcoholic cardiomyopathy and congestive cardiomyopathy?
3 doctor answers • 8 doctors weighed in
Dr. Jeff Blixtanswered
Addiction Medicine 26 years experience
See below: Alcohol cardiomyopathy is a type of cardiomyopathy. Other causes can include viral, from heart disease, from hypertension or congenital cardiomyopathy. Alcohol can have a direct toxic effect on the heart muscle itself causing it to enlarge become weak and cause congestion. These other causes may have similar symptoms as well.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A Verified Doctoranswered
Addiction Medicine 51 years experience
Yes: There are 2 major kinds of cardiomyopathy, which literally means disease of heart muscle. One is obstructive (asymmetric septal hypertrophy or ash), and the other is congestive, where heart muscle is weakened and fluid backs up into the lungs and body (congestive heart failure). Alcohol is one kind of congestive cardiomyopathy - others are viral, post-pregnancy, and toxin-related.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Franklin Schneideranswered
Cardiology 34 years experience
Yes and no.: Alcohol causes direct toxicity to the heart and can cause weakening of the heart. This can cause fluid retention and congestion. However, there are other types of heart weakening which can cause congestion. Sometimes the weakening from alcohol improves after someone stops drinking.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Similar questions
A 36-year-old member asked:
What are the differences between alcoholic cardiomyopathy and congestive cardiomyopathy?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Murali Chiravurianswered
Cardiology 43 years experience
Same: An alcoholic cardiomyopathy is a specific type of cardiomyopathy that can cause heart failure.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
How are alcoholic cardiomyopathy and congestive cardiomyopathy different?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Calvin Weisbergeranswered
53 years experience
Cardiomyopathy: Congestive cardiomyopathy generally has a dilated heart with decreased ejection fraction causing congestive heart failure. When this condition is caused by alcohol, we call it alcoholic cardiomyopathy.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Oct 29, 2021
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