Cardiomyopathy is an umbrella term that refers to several conditions that thicken, weaken or otherwise compromise the heart muscle tissue. Treatment for cardiomyopathy has four main goals:
* Management of any conditions that cause or contribute to the disease
* Control of symptoms and signs to allow for as normal a life as possible
* Preventing the disease from getting worse
* Reduction of complications and risk of sudden cardiac arrest
Doctors use a variety of strategies as part of the treatment for cardiomyopathy. They include medicines, surgical intervention, implanted devices to help regulate heartbeats, non-surgical procedures and lifestyle changes.
Drug Treatment
While medicines won’t reverse the damage done to heart tissues or cure cardiomyopathy, they can be helpful to manage symptoms, reduce or eliminate complications and prevent further damage. The goals of drug treatment for cardiomyopathy include:
* Lower blood pressure: High blood pressure is a risk factor and can worsen cardiomyopathy. Your doctor may prescribe ACE inhibitors, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers and angiotensin II receptor blockers.
* Regulate heart rhythm: Arrhythmias can cause further damage and may lead to sudden cardiac arrest. Doctors may prescribe antiarrhythmics to help keep your heart beating normally.
* Slow Heart Rate: Beta blockers, calcium channel blockers and digoxin help slower your heart rate.
* Remove excess fluid: Your doctor may prescribe diuretics to help your body remove excess fluids, which can compromise your system.
* Balance electrolytes: Abnormal electrolyte levels are typical in more severe cases of cardiomyopathy. Normal electrolyte balance is essential to your health. Your doctor may prescribe medication to help keep your electrolytes balanced.
* Prevent blood clots: People with cardiomyopathy are at risk for blood clots forming in the heart and traveling to other parts of the body, where they can block blood flow. Doctors may prescribe anticoagulants to reduce that risk.
* Reduce inflammation: Corticosteroids can help reduce heart inflammation and help prevent further damage to the heart.
Surgical Treatment
Surgical treatment for cardiomyopathy includes open-heart surgery, surgically implanted devices, such as pacemakers, CRT devices and ICDs (implantable cardioverter defibrillator), and heart transplant. In addition, doctors may inject ethanol into a small artery that supplies blood to the damaged area of the heart. The procedure, called alcohol septa ablation, kills cells, which shrinks the thickened tissue and improves blood flow through the heart.
Lifestyle and Home Remedies
Lifestyle changes can help manage contributing causes to cardiomyopathy. The most common lifestyle changes recommended include eating a healthy diet and increasing physical activity.
Alternative Therapies
Damage to the heart tissue can be caused by deficiencies in certain nutrients, so some doctors recommend dietary supplements as part of the treatment for cardiomyopathy. Many doctors believe that COQ10 supplements can help the remaining heart muscle cells work more efficiently. Doctors may also prescribe magnesium, vitamin E or magnesium to treat cardiomyopathy.
Stem Cell Therapy for Cardiomyopathy
A growing body of scientific evidence suggests that stem cell therapy may help patients with cardiomyopathy. In a number of studies, stem cell treatment has shown better results than conventional treatment for cardiomyopathy.