Dilated cardiomyopathy
goodtoknow says: Dilated cardiomyopathy is a condition of the heart muscle. The heart dilates (becomes enlarged) and pumps blood less well. Various symptoms may develop depending on the severity of the condition. Treatments vary depending on the severity of the symptoms and whether complications develop.
For a full medical explanation of the causes, symptoms and treatments of dilated from patient.co.uk, read on.
Understanding the normal heart
The heart has four chambers - two atria and two ventricles. The walls of these chambers are mainly made of special heart muscle called the myocardium. During each heartbeat both of the atria contract first to pump blood into the ventricles. Then both ventricles contract to pump blood out of the heart into the arteries. There are one-way valves between the atria and ventricles, and between the ventricles and the large arteries coming from the heart. The valves make sure that when the atria or ventricles contract, the blood flows in the correct direction.
What is cardiomyopathy?
Cardiomyopathy is a disorder of the heart muscle. There are four main types of cardiomyopathy:
- Dilated cardiomyopathy - where the heart dilates (enlarges).
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy - where the heart muscle becomes thickened ('hypertrophied').
- Restrictive cardiomyopathy - where the heart muscle cannot relax properly between heartbeats. This is rare.
- Arrhythmogenic right ventricular - a rare type which mainly affects the right side of the heart.
The rest of this leaflet is only about dilated cardiomyopathy.
Average rating:
Carole, over 2 years
My husband and two teenage children all have Dilated cardiomyopathy. My son was diagnosed first aged 15, My husband and daughter were not diagnosed until 2 years later. As my husband was an adult when diagosed . he had a heart attack and suffered heart damage. I would like to see screeing for this condition whivh when undiagnosed can be fatal. Sady too those who have it don not get free prescriptions, as for dla it seems to be something of a lottery.. Suddenly your life changes forever and there really is no practical support.
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