What Causes Cardiomyopathy?

Cardiomyopathy, also known as heart muscle disease, is a disease that affects the muscles surrounding the heart. During the very early stages of cardiomyopathy, there may be few, if any, signs or symptoms. However, as the disease progresses, patients may experience a broad range of symptoms including shortness of breath, swollen legs and feet, abdominal bloating, excessive fatigue, coughing, chest discomfort, and unusual heartbeats. There are several causes of cardiomyopathy, and they are classified as either inherited (genetic) or acquired. There are more than a dozen different causes in the acquired classification. Nevertheless, continue reading to discover the five most common causes of this disease now.

Inherited Condition

An inherited condition of cardiomyopathy can occur in individuals who have a family history of the disease. There are various types of heart conditions that can be inherited, and three of them are different forms of cardiomyopathy. These forms are known as idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. Treatment for an inherited condition of cardiomyopathy will depend on the patient's unique circumstances but can include simple lifestyle modifications, various medications, implantable devices, and surgery. There are numerous tests that can measure a patient's risk for inherited cardiomyopathy including electrocardiograms, exercise stress tests, and cardiac MRIs.

Keep reading to find out what role nutrition plays in the development of this condition.

Nutritional Deficiencies

While there are a variety of different causes of cardiomyopathy, one of the biggest causes is due to various nutritional deficiencies. This is what makes this particular form of cardiomyopathy the most preventable type. Diets that are highly deficient in thiamine, which includes vitamins B-1 and B-3, niacin, magnesium, calcium, and selenium, can trigger the development of cardiomyopathy. According to research studies, selenium seems to be the most critical nutrient necessary for preventing cardiomyopathy because it helps to protect the heart's muscles. However, magnesium is also essential in that it assists in proper heart functioning.

Continue reading to learn which disease can be a primary cause of cardiomyopathy.