I was just diagnosed with a weak heart muscle; my doctor said the name of this problem is cardiomyopathy. I built up fluid in my legs, so he gave me a water pill with a few other medications to take everyday. How did I get this?
Cardiomyopathy, is just as your doctor says, a weakened heart muscle. Many times we don’t know the cause of a cardiomyopathy, although in the United States the most common cause of cardiomyopathy is coronary artery disease, or blockages in the heart arteries, which causes heart attacks, and weakens the heart muscle. You should have an evaluation for coronary disease, most likely with a cardiac catheterization. Sometimes a cardiomyopathy can happen after a benign viral illness, and rarely it can happen after pregnancy. Your doctor should do a work up to try and figure out the cause of your cardiomyopathy. Diuretics, in addition to two other medications – an ACE inhibitor, and a Beta Blocker are the mainstays of treatment for cardiomyopathy.
To learn more about cardiomyopathy, watch this video from VideoMD.com.
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