Dilated cardiomyopathy

By Anthony Kiely

How it effects you

DCM is when the left ventricle becomes dilated and saggy. It stops it from pumping blood around the body effectively

This causes a build up of fluid around the body leading possibly to a heart failure

This can also lead to other conditions in later stages but most can be managed

Symptoms

DCM can take a while to be diagnosed by the time server symptoms occurs

Shortness of breath

Swelling of the ankles and abdomen

Excessive tiredness

Palpitations

Source : British heart foundation

How to diagnose

Doctors can do an echocardiogram which monitors your heartbeats.

Fitness tests can also help doctors diagnose the problem such as bleep tests.

Symptoms as past said can however take a while

How to cure it

There is no cure of the disease at the moment.

Conditions which can come on as a result of the disease can be helped by pacemakers, ICD and medication.

How will it effect

For the vast majority of people only minor adjustments are needed and most can continue to drive a car and go to work. No heavy duty work though.

As with most heart conditions there is a slight increased risk of a heart attack.

Inheritance

If you as a parent have DMC then according to the BHF research you have a 50% chance of inheriting it.

This is because it is caused by a faulty gene

And I thank youBecause this is a gloomy subject

Thank you

Produced by Anthony Kiely

Sourced mainly from The British Heart foundationWith help from BBC health and science (and a tiny bit from Wikipedia)

© Anthony Kiely 2013