What Is the Treatment for a Weak Heart Muscle?

Doctors recommend treatment according to the type of cardiomyopathy and the severity of the condition, explains Heartland Cardiovascular Center, LLC. Patients who are waiting for a heart transplant use a pacemaker or undergo surgery until a heart donor is found. Lifestyle changes help to manage the symptoms of angina, heart failure and abdominal heart rhythms, says MedlinePlus.

Medically known as cardiomyopathy, a weak heart muscle is usually stretched and weakened, says MedlinePlus. It tends to occur due to poor functioning of the heart. Depending on the condition of a patient, doctors use several surgeries or procedures to prevent the worsening of the condition. A defibrillator relays an electrical pulse to manage abnormal heart rhythms. A pacemaker supports both sides of the heart beat or helps to manage a slow heart pulse. Doctors may recommend angioplasty or coronary artery bypass to improve blood flow to the weak muscle. A heart transplant is necessary for severe cases.

People who have a greater risk of developing cardiomyopathy include those with regular heart attacks, alcoholics and patients with severe hypertension, says Heartland Cardiovascular Center, LLC. It can also run in families, so it can be inherited. The different types of cardiomyopathy include dilated, hypertrophic, restrictive, ischemic and peripartum, states MedlinePlus.

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