What is Cardiomyopathy?

Australia
March 12, 2011 8:37pm CST
Until my father passed away at the age of 66, I had known three people - all under the age of 32 - who had died, in rapid succession, as a consequence of cardiomyopathy. But I had never heard of the disease before that time. So what exactly is cardiomyopathy? The name literally means 'heart muscle disease' and it refers to the deterioration of the actual heart muscle - the myocardium. People with cardiomyopathy are often at risk of sudden cardiac death. The symptoms of cardiomyopathy often mimic those of any form of heart disease; and chest pain is common. But severe cases are associated with arrhythmias, heart failure, and systemic embolization. Treatment depends on the type of cardiomyopathy - of which there are around twenty - but will often include medication, pacemakers, defibrillators, and ablation. Have you ever heard of cardiomyopathy? Or known anybody who has suffered with the disease?
2 responses
Bonnie
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
13 Mar 11
I worked in a cardiac intensive care unit back in my working days. We had many patients with this condition. By the time the chief symptoms are recognized and diagnosed, some patients have already progressed to where life expectancy is shortened significantly without intervention with an implanted assist pump. I don't think that a pacemaker or difibrillator would be of much benefit unless the diagnosis was hypertrophic cardiomyopathy since the heart can't pump sufficient volume in the first place. The assist pumps are used as temporary while waiting for a heart transplant. Few patients live that long as donor hearts are hard to come by. The patient must be on a list and may have to wait months to years for a heart. They must also be a suitable candidate; 65 yr old (I think is the age limit) and have no other life-altering conditions, and have a criteria-based survival expectation. I've not had anyone in my family or circle of friends with the disease but am familiar with it only from working with these patients.
1 person likes this
holesworth
@holesworth (220)
• Australia
14 Mar 11
Thank you for your professional insight. By the time that doctor's had discovered my father's condition, his heart was only working at 12% of its capacity; so there was nothing that could be done, unfortunately.
hardworkinggurl
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
13 Mar 11
I am sorry for you loss and he was so very young. I did know someone who passed away with the same disease and she was 57. I do know some about the disease because of my dear lady friend. I could not accept at the time of her passing and did learn quite a bit. I do know that most do pass from sudden heart attack, which is how she passed. It is very sad to know someone with this dangerous life threatening disease. It was only 1 1/2 years ago that she passed and I remember going to Wikipedia right away to understand more. There after I researched further online and was also told by her family members that she was suffering from it for a few years and did not want to inform others. The two reasons why I am really sad for her.
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holesworth
@holesworth (220)
• Australia
14 Mar 11
Thank you for your kind words and response. My sincere condolences for your loss. My father developed pneumonia, which is what lead to his hospital stay and the consequent discovery that he was suffering from cardiomyopathy. The doctors stated that my dad's heart was only functioning at 12% of its capcity and that - because of that fact - any operation would be too much of a strain on it. We - my family - was then advised that the worst would ultimately happen, and that it could happen in a couple of months or it could happen in two years. (It happened in only 5 weeks.) While I am sorry for your loss, I am glad that you have taken a positive approach to it by wishing to inform others about cardiomyopathy.