Cardiomyopathy is a heart disease that can affect people at any
age, but we offer medications and other treatments to manage it. At the Wake
Forest Heart & Vascular Center, our team provides expert care for
cardiomyopathy so patients of all ages can maintain a normal lifestyle.
New patients may request an appointment online to discuss cardiomyopathy treatment with our team.
What is Cardiomyopathy?
Cardiomyopathy includes diseases of the heart muscle that reduce
the heart’s ability to pump effectively. These diseases enlarge your heart
muscle or make it thicker and more rigid than normal.
The causes of cardiomyopathy are not always known. It can be inherited, meaning that it’s caused by genes passed down
from your parents. It can also be acquired,
meaning that you develop it because of another condition or risk factor.
Conditions and risk factors that may lead to cardiomyopathy
- Viral infections that may injure the heart
- Metabolic disorders, such as obesity, thyroid
disease or diabetes
- Heavy alcohol or drug use
Because cardiomyopathy weakens the heart, it’s important to get
treated. Treatment can prevent the disease from getting worse, control symptoms
and reduce your risk for serious complications, including:
Symptoms of Cardiomyopathy
As cardiomyopathy progresses and the heart weakens, signs and
symptoms of heart failure usually occur. These include:
- Shortness of breath or trouble breathing,
especially with physical activity
- Swelling in the feet, ankles, legs, abdomen
or veins in the neck
- Abdominal bloating caused by fluid buildup
- Irregular heartbeats
- Dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting
Our experienced heart and vascular specialists use a range of
tools to find and diagnose cardiomyopathy. The most common tests your physician
may recommend are:
- Blood and stress tests
echocardiogram and cardiac MRI
- Chest X-ray
angiogram and myocardial biopsy
- Electrocardiogram (EKG)
- Event and Holter monitor to record your
heart’s electrical activity over 24 to 48 hours
Learn more about heart and
at Wake Forest.
Cardiomyopathy Treatment at Wake Forest Baptist
Your treatment course will depend on which type of cardiomyopathy
you have: inherited or acquired. We will develop a personalized treatment plan
for you, which may include one or more of the following:
and your doctor can decide which treatment is right for you. All of our
patients receive pre-operative counseling to help them understand the risks and
benefits of procedures.
a cardiomyopathy evaluation or treatment appointment online. Or, for more
information, please call:
- 336-716-WAKE or