Dilated cardiomyopathy
Dilated cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle that develops mainly in the main chamber of the heart (left ventricle). The left ventricle becomes stretched and thinned, so it cannot pump the same amount of blood as a healthy heart. The term "cardiomyopathy" is a general definition that means a disease of the heart muscle
Dilated cardiomyopathy may not cause symptoms, but in some patients the condition can be life-threatening. The most common cause of heart failure in cardiomyopathy is the limited function of the heart to supply the body with a sufficient amount of blood. Cardiomyopathy also causes irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias), blood clots, and sudden death.
The condition can occur in patients of any age, including infants and children, the disease most often occurs in men aged 20-60
The cause of dilated cardiomyopathy is unknown (idiopathic). However, many factors can cause the left ventricle to widen and weaken:
- Genetics
- Associated heart disease
- Infections, including bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections
- Drug and alcohol use
- Some cancer treatments
If you have dilated cardiomyopathy, you may experience symptoms of heart failure or arrhythmias caused by the condition:
- Fatigue
- Heart failure (dyspnea) during physical activity or lying down
- Reduced ability to exercise
- Swelling (edema) of the legs, Dial 112 if you have chest pain that lasts more than a few minutes or have severe breathing difficulties
- If a member of your family has dilated cardiomyopathy, be sure to consult a doctor and advise other family members to undergo tests to rule out the same disease. Early diagnosis may be beneficial in asymptomatic inherited dilated cardiomyopathy
