Patient/caregiver was instructed that damage and alteration to the cardiac muscle is the central element for development of cardiomyopathy.
The risk factors and causes for damage and alteration to the cardiac muscle could vary as follows:
- Family history: Individuals with family history of cardiomyopathy and heart failure can be at increased risk for the disorder, by inheriting a defective gene, resulting in abnormal growth of heart muscle and cardiomyopathy.
- High blood pressure: In hypertensive individuals, the heart works harder to pump blood against elevated blood pressure. Chronic unresolved hypertension, by increasing the workload on the heart, alters structure of heart muscle and result in cardiomyopathy.
- Hyperthyroidism: Abnormally increased thyroid hormone levels can result in unusual faster heart rate, thus increasing the workload on the heart. Over period of time, this can alter structure of heart muscle and results in cardiomyopathy.
- Coronary artery disease: Coronary arteries are blood vessels that supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. Blockage of these blood vessels can compromise blood supply to the heart muscle, thus damaging the heart muscle and resulting in cardiomyopathy.
