Cardiomyopathy

You can make a big difference with healthy lifestyle changes.

Cardiomyopathy is a condition in which the heart muscle becomes stiff and weak. Such change in the muscle structure makes it difficult for the heart to pump blood. A prolonged cardiomyopathic condition may even lead to heart failure.

Initial diagnosis and prompt treatment are essential to avoid the condition from progressing. Our excellent and professional team of cardiologists at Baderia Golden Heart Hospital provides incredible patient outcomes by applying novel cardiological diagnoses, procedures, and treatments to avoid cardiomyopathy from changing into heart failure. 

Symptoms of Cardiomyopathy

The early symptoms of cardiomyopathy may not be apparent. The signs and symptoms, however, will be prominent once the condition advances. Hence, you have to be vigilant regarding any change or discomfort and seek medical attention at the earliest. 

The symptoms you should be careful about are:

• Swelling in the legs, ankles, and feet.
• Breathlessness with even slight physical activity.
• Difficulty lying flat.
• Bloating in the abdomen.
• Coughing while lying down.
• Chest discomfort.
• Fatigue.
• Dizziness.
• Fainting.

Diagnosis of Cardiomyopathy

We at Baderia Golden Heart Hospital have excellent diagnostic facilities which provide accurate cardiological diagnoses. Our state-of-the-art facilities along with the expertise of our doctors provide all-around treatment for patients with coronary artery disease. 

Upon visiting our hospital, the doctors will conduct a thorough physical examination, study your previous medical history, and review your existing symptoms to take a course of action. 

Following this, our doctor will run some additional tests to confirm the condition:

• Blood Tests: Blood tests will be conducted to determine the presence of other diseases that can affect the heart. Moreover, the presence of certain compounds in the blood also indicates the inefficacy of the heart. This will be evaluated from blood tests.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG): This test will be conducted to evaluate the electrical activity in your heart. This test will show the timing and lengths of your heartbeats which indicates heart failure.
• Echocardiogram: This test produces images of the heart with the help of sound waves. The test shows the size and structure of the heart along with the blood flow. 
• Stress test: A stress test will be conducted to measure the health of the heart during activity. During this test, you will be asked to walk on a treadmill attached to an ECG machine. This will measure the capacity of your heart and lungs to get oxygen.
• Imaging tests: A series of imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs will be conducted to study the image of your heart and evaluate heart issues.
• Coronary angiogram: In this test, the doctor will inject a dye into your blood vessels through a catheter. This will make your arteries visible on the X-ray. It will help the doctor in determining any blockage.
• Genetic test: Cardiomyopathy is an inherited disorder which means that it might have been passed to you from your family. Hence, the doctor may conduct a genetic test in some cases to diagnose the issue. 

Surgery for Heart Failure

At Baderia Golden Heart Hospital, our main aim is to offer patients comfort and satisfaction. We curate the most suitable treatment strategy for our patients by studying their condition. Usually, the first line of treatment includes medications and lifestyle changes. Surgery is recommended if the medications and lifestyle changes are unable to improve the condition. The doctor may perform the following surgeries depending on your condition:

• Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT):

During this surgery, the doctor will place a device called a pacemaker in your heart to send electrical signals to the ventricles. These signals will trigger your ventricles to contract and improve the pumping of blood.

• Ventricular Assist Devices (VADs):

During this surgery, the doctor will attach you to a mechanical circulatory support device. This device will help in pumping blood from the ventricles to the rest of your body.

• Septal Myectomy: 

This is an open-heart surgery in which the heart surgeon removes a part of the thickened muscles. Removing a part of the heart muscles improves the blood flow.

• Heart Transplant:

Patients with severe or total heart damage may require a transplant. In this procedure, the doctor will replace your damaged heart with a healthy heart from a donor.