Heart Condition Saturday: Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Last month, 10-month-old Nate Draper, who was born with dilated cardiomyopathy, recovered so quickly that doctors deemed it a miracle. Unfortunately, most people with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), including his twin brother Nick who received a heart transplant in February, don’t have the same experience.

From the Cardiomyopathy Association:

Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a disease of the heart muscle that causes the heart to become enlarged, and to pump less strongly….

As a result the muscle of the heart becomes weak, thin, or floppy and is unable to pump blood efficiently around the body. This causes fluid to build up in the lungs, which therefore become congested, and results in a feeling of breathlessness: this is called left heart failure.

Causes of dilated cardiomyopathy:

• Genetic/Familial
• Viral Infection
• Auto-Immune Disease
• Excessive alcohol consumption and exposure to toxic compounds
• Pregnancy

Symptoms of dilated cardiomyopahty:

• Shortness of breath
• Swelling of the ankles
• Tiredness
• Palpitations and Syncope
• Chest pain

For more information, visit the Cardiomyopathy Association.

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