Congestive heart failure (CHF), also called congestive cardiac failure (CCF) or just heart failure, is a condition that can result from any structural or functi...
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Types/Causes of Cardiomyopathy
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Many of you have sent me questions about the cause of Cardiomyopathy so i wanted to post about it.
1) Cardiomyopathy is a general term for a mixed group of diseases of the myocardium associated with mechanical and/or electrical dysfunction. 2) We usually see EITHER ventricular hypertrophy (walls of the left ventricle too thick) or dilatation (big dilated left ventricle) 3) The Cardiomyopathies are due to a variety of causes that frequently are genetic. 4) The TYPE of Cardiomyopathy you have is a diagnosis made on Cardiac Echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) and these are the types: Dilated cardiomyopathy Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy Restrictive cardiomyopathy Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy Unclassified cardiomyopathies 5) Important point about the causes of these: Some common cardiomyopathies that are associated with specific disorders include: ischemic (coronary artery disease), valvular, hypertensive, and a host of "inflammatory," metabolic, toxic (alcohol,chemotherapies), and inherited disorders. Hope this helps Dr O. Posted on 02/01/08, 07:02 pm |
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Hi
I was diagnosed with nonschemic cardiopathy my hf is probably about 29% I do have a fibulator. I can not find very much about this and my Doctor doesn't say much accept that I have a high probabily of dropping dead. I am now excercising but I do not feel good sometimes. 
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Non-ischemic means that your Cardiomyopathy was NOT caused by Coronary Artery Disease.
You would have to check with your Doctor to see what KIND of Cardiomyopathy you have, like the others listed above by Dr. O. I am assuming the 29% is your Ejection Fraction (EF), this is the amount of blood your heart is pumping out. With an EF of 29% and Cardiomyopathy...that does put you at higher risk of developing a potentially fatal irregular heart rhythm, which starts usually as Ventricular Tachycardia, goes to Ventricular Fibrillation, then Asystole (Flat Line). This is why you have an AICD, a defibrillator in. This is your back-up...if your AICD detects one of those irregular heart rhythms, it will deliver a shock to your heart to restore the natural rhythm. Sometimes, it may even act like a pacemaker. If you notice your AICD fire/shock, you should go to the ER. You need to very gradually increase your exercise. Your exercise tolerance is low b/c of your EF being 29%. That will make you tired and not feel good at times. Hope that helps! You can google AICD, Defibrillator, Cardiomyopathy and probably find more info.
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I have dilated cardiomyopathy. In Januart my EF was 20% I am on coreg and dixin. Having repeart Echo in June as well as a holter monitor to se if I'll need an implanted defib.
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In many cases the cause of Dilated Cardiomyopathy cant be found (We call that idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy) In a …
Hello, My name is Donna. I am 44 yrs old and live in Huntsville, AL. Have had dilated cardiomyopathy since 2001. …
As many of you may know ICDs have been shown to improve mortality in patients with ischemic left ventricular …
