Do you have to take medication for life for dilated cardiomyopathy?

Written by Li Hai Wen
Cardiology
Updated on March 24, 2025
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Dilated cardiomyopathy refers to a disease characterized by an enlarged heart, especially significant enlargement of the left ventricle, along with a severe reduction in the heart's ejection fraction. Those diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy generally require long-term, and possibly lifelong, medication management. This includes diuretic medications such as furosemide or spironolactone, and β-blocker agents such as metoprolol or bisoprolol. These medications can effectively improve symptoms of heart failure caused by dilated cardiomyopathy, enhance quality of life, and even extend lifespan. Therefore, it is crucial for patients with dilated cardiomyopathy to take medications as prescribed by a doctor and not to discontinue them arbitrarily.

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Written by Zhang Yue Mei
Cardiology
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Is cardiomyopathy life-threatening?

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 Zhang Yue Mei
Cardiology
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Can people with cardiomyopathy eat beef?

Patients with myocarditis can eat beef, but not too much. They should consume beef in small amounts. Beef is a type of meat with very high nutritional value, and it is a major source of high-quality protein, trace elements, and minerals for the human body. Eating beef regularly can improve the body's immunity and disease resistance. For patients with myocarditis, eating beef can help accelerate the repair of myocardial tissue. However, it is advisable not to eat fatty beef but instead choose lean meat and consume it in moderation. It is also important to pay attention to dietary structure, preferably eating easily digestible, high-protein nutritional foods, and increase the intake of vegetables and fruits, which can aid in the recovery from myocarditis.

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Written by Li Hai Wen
Cardiology
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What should I do if dilated cardiomyopathy is causing insomnia?

Dilated cardiomyopathy causing insomnia needs to be treated based on the cause of the insomnia. First, if it is simply poor sleep quality causing occasional insomnia, no special treatment is needed. However, if insomnia occurs daily and affects quality of life, sleep-improving medications such as eszopiclone or zopiclone may be taken under a doctor's guidance. Second, if caused by worsening heart failure symptoms, which lead to nocturnal respiratory distress and affect sleep, resulting in insomnia, the treatment for heart failure should be intensified under a doctor's guidance, for instance, by increasing diuretic treatment or adjusting medications. Improving heart failure symptoms naturally enhances sleep quality. (If medication is required, please do so under the guidance of a doctor)

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Written by Li Hai Wen
Cardiology
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The difference between cardiomyopathy and coronary heart disease

Cardiomyopathy refers to a type of disease characterized primarily by organic changes in the myocardium, such as dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and restrictive cardiomyopathy. These diseases are characterized mainly by pathological changes in the myocardium itself, forming a category of heart diseases. In contrast, coronary heart disease often refers to a type of heart disease caused by the narrowing of the coronary arteries due to atherosclerosis, leading to insufficient blood supply to the heart. Cardiomyopathy often manifests as damage to the myocardium, while coronary heart disease often manifests as blockage of the blood vessels. This is the fundamental difference between these two categories of heart diseases.

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Written by Tang Li
Cardiology
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What is the prognosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?

The prognosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy varies greatly, and it is the primary cause of sudden death in adolescents and athletes because it can progress to end-stage heart failure. Additionally, a small percentage may experience heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and embolism, but many patients have mild symptoms and can have a life expectancy close to normal. For the treatment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, adequate sudden death risk assessment and ICD prevention should be conducted. Because hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common cause of sudden cardiac death in young people and athletes, an ICD can effectively prevent the occurrence of sudden death. Preventing high-risk factors, including previous cardiac arrest, one or more sudden deaths in first-degree relatives, severe left ventricular hypertrophy, and findings of repetitive non-sustained ventricular tachycardia on a 24-hour Holter monitor, low blood pressure during exercise, and unexplained syncope, especially during exercise, poses a high risk of sudden death in these patients.