What is dilated cardiomyopathy?

Question

Answer 1

Weak enlarged heart: Dilated cardiomyopathy is a condition where the heart is not pumping normally and is enlarged. There are many causes including inherited conditions, infections and coronary artery abnormalities.

Answer 2

Cardiomyopathy: Dilated cardiomyopathy is a weak heart condition. It is serious and requires long term treatment. It is caused by viruses, poisons, alcohol, genetics and other things. It can kill both suddenly and over time. When well treated it is possible to live a long time, sometimes people need a heart transplant.

Answer 3

Heart muscle: That is not functioning normally with resultant chamber enlargement. Diagnosed by echocardiogram.

Answer 4

Enlarged heart: Dilated cardiomyopathy is description of an enlarged,poorly contracting heart. It can be due to known factors such as ischemia(coronary),infectiion(virus) drugs(cancer)etc or unknown (idiopathic) which is genetic or familial. The latter is transmitted as autosomal dominant 50% chance of getting it or X linked- mother are carriers but sons get the disease plus muscular dystrophy

Answer 5

There are treatments: Some kinds of dilated cardiomyopathy improve with time, such as those caused by alcohol abuse, which may improve with abstinence. In other cases the standard medications for heart failure do not cure, but can improve heart function and devices like an aicd help control arrythmias.

Answer 6

Yes: Any potential causes should be addressed. There are several medications that, in combination, may greatly improve symptoms and slow progression of disease. Lifestyle modifications are appropriate such as tobacco and alcohol abstinence, weight management. In severe cases, there are several surgical options from special pacemakers and defibrillators to heart assist devices to transplantation.

Answer 7

Yes: Any potential causes should be addressed. There are several medications that, in combination, may greatly improve symptoms and slow progression of disease. Lifestyle modifications are appropriate such as tobacco and alcohol abstinence, weight management. In severe cases, there are several surgical options from special pacemakers and defibrillators to heart assist devices to transplantation.

Answer 8

Depends: Dilated cardiomyopathy (dcm) prognosis depends on many things. The degree of dysfunction affects the prognosis. The degree of symptoms affects the prognosis; additionally the cause affects the prognosis as well. If the cause can be reversed by revascularization, if it is a viral etiology or a type from which recovery is possible (valve replacement, cessation of alcohol) the prognosis may by better.

Answer 9

Depends: Depends on how severe it is. Milder forms can be controlled with medications, which is the majority of patients, and a normal lifestyle is quite possible. The most severe cases may be eligible for heart transplantation, talk to your doctor.

Answer 10

Depends: Meds such as acei, b-blockers, water pills, digoxin.Devices such as aicd bi-ventricular pacemakers and left ventricular assist devices. Some pts are transplant candidates. Salt restriction , abstinence from alcohol, aerobic exercize, .

Answer 11

Depends: Depends on how severe it is. Milder forms can be controlled with medications, which is the majority of patients, and a relatively normal lifestyle is quite possible. The most severe cases may be eligible for heart transplantation, talk to your doctor.

Answer 12

Shortness : Of breath, decreased exercise tolerance, peripheral edema. Pulmonary edema.

Answer 13

Like heart failure : You might feel fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath while you are lying down or physically active, lightheaded, dizzy, fainting, persistent cough of wheezing especial at when you are lying downs. You might have leg, ankle or feet swelling, sudden weight gain or fluid retention, lack of appetite, heart flutters, palpitations and pale skin.

Answer 14

Several: Some patients may be asymptomatic, but others have symptoms that range from exertional fatigue to overt anginal chest pain, to exertional shortness of breath, to overt heart failure with severe shortness of breath on low levels of exertion. The extreme involves syncope from near fatal or fatal ventricular arrhythmias, to fatal or non-fatal myocardial infarction (heart attack).