Stress Management

Cardiomyopathy

Conventional Treatment of Cardiomyopathy

Medications do not make a weak heart strong again. Medications may improve the strength of the heartbeat; but they can't reverse the underlying disease of the muscle. In general, muscle damage is irreversible. However, there are examples in which the muscle improved spontaneously. Dean Ornish, MD has shown that complementary therapies, especially mind-body interventions, can reverse heart disease. Supplementation of Co Q10 has shown to reverse some of the effects heart damage.

Vasodilators

Vasodilators have been shown to improve the life expectancy of patients with heart failure. In one scientific study, during one year of observation, only 36 percent of patients who had taken a vasodilator died as opposed to 52 percent of deaths in patients who took a placebo. Thus, although medications can lower the death rate from cardiomyopathy, the mortality rate remains very high, even with medications.

Digoxin and Water Pills

These can improve the symptoms of heart failure. But they do not have any impact on survival from cardiomayopathy. Use caution when using water pills, though. They can deplete the body of potassium, and make it vulnerable to dangerous changes in the electrical rhythm.

Steroids

Steroids were once prescribed for cardiomyopathy. Recent studies have shown that they have minimal benefit. Also, in the doses required to impact cardiomyopathy, steroids have serious side effects.

Heart Transplant

For patients with severe cardiomyopathy, medications may fail to make a meaningful difference. In these cases, cardiac transplantation must be considered.

Caution: Cardiomyopathy is a life-threatening condition. If you suspect you or someone you know is suffering from cardiomyopathy, seek medical assistance immediately.

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