Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Patients may notice improved heart function and reduced swelling within a few weeks, though regular blood tests are required to monitor potassium levels and kidney function. Doctors may perform blood tests to check for markers of inflammation or infection. In contrast, alcoholic cardiomyopathy typically shows a globally weakened heart muscle without inflammation. A 1- and 4-year follow-up study of 55 men with alcoholism showed that abstinence and controlled drinking of up to 60 g/day (4 drinks) resulted in comparable improvement in LV ejection fraction. Ten patients who continued to drink higher amounts of Drug rehabilitation alcohol all died during the follow-up period. The natural history of patients with AC depends greatly on each patient’s ability to cease alcohol consumption completely.

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• As a result, it expands to hold extra blood, further causing the muscles to become fragile.
• The length of time and how much you drink are two factors that directly influence your long-term survival.
• Incorporating heart-healthy habits like regular exercise, a balanced diet, and stress management can further mitigate risks.
• Early diagnosis is vital, as it allows for timely intervention to prevent further heart damage and improve outcomes.

Management and Treatment

Patients may notice gradual improvements in heart function and symptoms like shortness of breath and fatigue, though benefits may take several weeks to appear. Palpitations, dizziness, and syncope are common complaints and are frequently caused by arrhythmias (eg, atrial fibrillation, flutter) and premature contractions. In the setting of acute alcohol use or intoxication, this is called holiday heart syndrome, because the incidence is increased following weekends and during holiday seasons. Echocardiography is perhaps the most useful initial diagnostic tool in the evaluation of patients with heart failure. Because of the ease and speed of the test and its noninvasive nature, it is https://hartvoorregelen.nl/chrissy-teigen-credits-carl-radke-for-helping-her/ the study of choice in the initial and follow-up evaluation of most forms of cardiomyopathy.

• As pointed out before, the current accepted definition of ACM probably underestimates the number of women affected by the disease.
• However, prolonged neglect can lead to irreversible heart failure, making early detection and lifestyle changes imperative.
• Lifestyle modifications, such as adopting a heart-healthy diet and engaging in regular physical activity, can also support heart function and reduce the strain caused by alcohol.

How should I change my diet if I have this condition?

The only factor to predict a poor outcome was the duration of symptoms before admission. Finally, it should be noted that a large majority of studies on the long-term prognosis of ACM used the cut-off point of 80 g/d for a minimum of 5 years to consider alcohol as the cause of DCM. Since those initial descriptions, reports on several isolated cases or in small series of patients with HF due to DCM and high alcohol intake have been published15-17.

Preventing Progression and Recurrence

Over time, this means your heart can’t pump blood as effectively, which reduces your body’s available oxygen supply. The treatment is step by step, by correcting each and every layer of damage done to alcoholic cardiomyopathy symptoms the cardiovascular system. Simultaneously, the patient must give up the habit of drinking alcohol or related beverages, or else the treatment is bound to fail. Mentioned below are a few of the treatment options for alcoholic cardiomyopathy. The most critical step in treating alcoholic cardiomyopathy is complete abstinence from alcohol. Continuing to drink alcohol will only worsen the condition and reduce the effectiveness of other treatments.