Is cardiomyopathy life-threatening?

Written by Zhang Yue Mei

Cardiology

Updated on September 17, 2024

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Whether cardiomyopathy poses a threat to life depends on the severity of the condition. Mild myocardial damage, if detected early, diagnosed early, and treated with effective medications in a timely manner, generally has a good prognosis, poses no threat to life, and leaves no sequelae. Severe myocardial damage, due to lack of timely treatment, can lead to serious complications such as heart failure, arrhythmias, and cardiogenic shock, which can endanger life safety. Therefore, early diagnosis, early treatment, and prevention of complications are crucial treatment measures for cardiomyopathy.

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Written by Liu Yong

Cardiology

46sec

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Can people with cardiomyopathy eat spicy food?

Generally speaking, patients with cardiomyopathy during stable phases may consider consuming spicy food, especially since these patients often have relatively poor appetites. Using mildly spicy food can potentially stimulate the appetite and improve nutritional status. However, from another perspective, excessive consumption of spicy food may cause patients to drink large amounts of water. Excessive intake could potentially increase the burden on cardiac function; therefore, it is not recommended for patients with cardiomyopathy to consume overly spicy foods. Patients with cardiomyopathy also have dietary restrictions, including a diet low in salt and fat, as overly salty diets can also exacerbate the burden on the heart and kidneys.

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Written by Xie Zhi Hong

Cardiology

1min 4sec

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How to recover from decreased physical fitness due to dilated cardiomyopathy?

Dilated cardiomyopathy is diagnosed after excluding conditions such as hyperthyroidism, hypertension, coronary heart disease, cardiac hypertrophy, or myocarditis as underlying causes. Generally, the exact cause of dilated cardiomyopathy is unknown, rendering causal treatment impossible. Once diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, it is impossible to completely cure the condition. The only approach is to manage symptoms and prevent further progression of the disease. Typically, this involves the use of beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, and diuretics. If the patient has severe cardiac dysfunction, drugs like digoxin, which strengthen heart function, may be considered. If medication does not adequately control the condition, other treatments like CRT might be considered, as well as the use of phosphodiesterase inhibitors, diuretics, or intravenous cardiotonic glycosides.

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Written by Zhang Yue Mei

Cardiology

39sec

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Can people with cardiomyopathy run?

Whether a person with myocardial disease can run or not depends on the extent of myocardial damage and clinical symptoms. If the myocardial damage is severe and there are significant clinical symptoms of heart failure and arrhythmia, this group should not run and needs bed rest. If strenuous activity would worsen heart failure, the myocardial damage is mild, with no typical clinical symptoms, and does not affect daily activities, this group can engage in appropriate exercises like walking or running, but the duration should not be too long, about 20 to 30 minutes each time.

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Written by Li Hai Wen

Cardiology

44sec

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Is dilated cardiomyopathy more serious or is myocardial ischemia more serious?

This has to be judged comprehensively based on the following conditions: First, the age factor. If it occurs in young people, dilated cardiomyopathy tends to be more severe. This is because dilated cardiomyopathy is an organic heart disease, and myocardial ischemia in young people may not necessarily involve organic heart disease changes, but could also be normal physiological changes in the electrocardiogram. Second, whether there is concurrent cardiac function impairment. Dilated cardiomyopathy definitely involves impairment of the heart's pumping function, whereas myocardial ischemia does not necessarily involve such impairment. Therefore, in most cases, dilated cardiomyopathy is more serious.

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Written by Tang Li

Cardiology

1min 38sec

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How is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy treated?

The treatment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy aims to improve symptoms, reduce complications, and prevent sudden death. The methods include improving ventricular compliance by reducing outflow tract obstruction, preventing thromboembolic events, and identifying high-risk patients for sudden death. Treatment needs to be individualized, and the main treatments include the following aspects: 1. Medication treatment. Drug treatment is fundamental, and drugs targeting outflow tract obstruction mainly include receptor blockers and non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers. For patients with congestive heart failure, targeted treatment is required. Anticoagulation treatment is necessary for patients with atrial fibrillation, and it is worth noting that for patients with chest discomfort, care should be taken to exclude outflow tract obstruction when using nitrate drugs to avoid exacerbation after use. Non-drug treatments include: 1. Surgical treatment: For patients with ineffective drug treatment and heart function class three to four, if there is severe outflow tract obstruction, septal myectomy should be considered. Currently, surgery is listed as the preferred treatment for suitable patients in consensus guidelines in both America and Europe. 2. Alcohol septal ablation; 3. Pacing therapy.