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About Cardiomyopathies
What are Cardiomyopathies?
Cardiomyopathies are a group of inherited heart diseases that cause the heart muscle to become abnormally enlarged, thickened, and /or stiffened diminishing the heart’s ability to function and creating the potential for arrhythmias. In some patients, cardiomyopathies cause noticeable symptoms from an early age, but in others they can go undetected for years until unexpectedly causing symptoms. Cardiomyopathies can cause the heart to beat irregularly causing symptoms such as fainting or seizures and lead to the diagnosis of potentially dangerous conditions, such as:
Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC)
What is ARVC?
ARVC is a disease in which the heart muscle is gradually replaced with fat and scar tissue. The fat and scar tissue interferes with the heart’s electrical system and leads to an irregular heartbeat. The disease was once believed to affect the right ventricle only however it is now know that both ventricles can be affected. ARVC may also cause the heart to become enlarged and contract poorly, reducing the heart’s ability to pump blood to the rest of the body. Typical symptoms of ARVC include dizziness, fainting and/or heart palpitations.
Diagnosing ARVC
Diagnosing ARVC can be challenging since several diagnostic tests have traditionally been needed. Your physician may suspect you have ARVC based on the symptoms you are experiencing and/or specific abnormal findings on diagnostic tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG), stress testing, Holter monitor, echocardiogram, otr cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Diagnosing ARVC as early as possible is important to help your physician provide the most appropriate treatment as well as prevent possible complications.
Treating ARVC
Treatments are available that can improve symptoms and help better manage ARVC. Some treatment options include:
- Medications that may help relax the heart muscle and slow your heart rate so that your heart can pump more effectively.
- Implantation of a device called an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD).
- Surgical options to alter rhythm abnormalities.
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