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Dilated Cardiomyopathy, the most common form of heart muscle disease, occurs mostly in middle–aged people and more in men than women. However, the disease has been diagnosed in people of all ages, including children. Also called “Congestive Cardiomyopathy” it damages the muscle tissue that makes up the heart’s pumping chambers.

If the chamber walls become weak enough, the heart can no longer perform its normal pumping action adequately. Other parts of the body compensate for this deficiency in pumping power by increasing the quantity of fluid they retain – and by producing a greater volume of blood than usual. The heart chambers then dilate (expand) to accommodate the greater blood volume.

Bodily functions remain near normal over the short term. Early on, adequate circulation is maintained. Stretching of the heart muscle tissue to accommodate the increased blood volume can initially restore some of the heart’s pumping strength: the more a muscle is stretched, the more forcefully it may contract. Over the long term, however, the effects of continuing heart enlargement are not positive. The heart compensates by increasing its rate. The less efficient heart cannot contract as well, which results in poor circulation and causes excess body fluids to accumulate in the lungs, abdomen, and legs. This fluid buildup produces breathing difficulties and swelling (edema), two common symptoms of heart failure.

Causes of Dilated Cardiomyopathy
No exact cause can be determined for more than 80% of all cases of dilated cardiomyopathy, although viral infections may be responsible. Unfortunately, viruses are very difficult to detect in laboratory samples. Because the infection may have occurred months or even years before a person shows any sign of a weakened heart muscle, the precise initiating cause is difficult to pinpoint with certainty. When the cause is unknown, the cardiomyopathy is called idiopathic.

Other cases can be traced to the following causes: Symptoms of Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Sometimes inflammation of the heart muscle causes no immediate noticeable symptoms. At other times, the person affected may feel symptoms most often associated with the common cold or flu: chills, fever, overall aches, and weariness. When the heart becomes very enlarged, a person will feel definite symptoms. These include chest pain, extreme tiredness, shortness of breath, and swelling of the legs and ankles. All of these are early signs of heart failure.

Diagnosis of Dilated Cardiomyopathy Treatment of Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Whether an underlying cause can be identified or not, treatment is focused on relieving symptoms, as well as relieving the extra load the heart has been bearing. Lifestyle changes, medication, and/or surgery may be needed. If physicians can determine the cause of the dilated cardiomyopathy, treatment may be more specific. For example, correcting a nutritional deficiency or eliminating a toxin from the body can actually reverse the damage that’s been done to the heart. In some cases of alcohol–caused dilated cardiomyopathy, total abstinence allows the body to repair itself.

Medication for Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Drugs can help manage symptoms and improve heart action. In some cases, patients may need to have oxygen available at all times.

Surgery for Dilated Cardiomyopathy
For some patients, the amount of damage to the heart muscle is so great that medications aren’t effective – nor are additional medical options for repairing the damage promising. In those situations, selective patients, physicians may recommend that a heart transplant be considered. Patients may need the support of a heart assisting device while they await a transplant. In some cases, the device may allow recovery of heart function, eliminating the need for a heart transplant.

Lifestyle changes
Persons may need to lose weight, stop smoking, get sufficient rest, restrict salt intake, or begin a moderate exercise program. Improving overall fitness can help ease the demands on the heart and improve the effectiveness of prescribed medications.