Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy

Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy Surgery in India is available at various Indian Hospitals that are state of the art and use the latest medical technologies. The reason why many international patients come to India for medical treatment is because of the cost factor. Even though the price of various medical treatments in India is very low, the quality is at par at with western Countries.

Summary

Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is a disorder in which drinking too much alcohol over a long period of time weakens the heart muscle so that it cannot pump blood efficiently.

    Causes

 In severe cases, the lack of blood flow affects all parts of the body, damaging many tissues and organs. The disorder is most commonly seen in men ages 35-55. However, it may develop in anyone who drinks too much alcohol over a long period of time. Alcoholic cardiomyopathy may be confused with dilated cardiomyopathy of unknown cause (idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy) if the person's drinking history is not known.

Symptoms

There are usually no symptoms until the disease is in an advanced stage. At that point, the symptoms occur due to heart failure and may include –

• Ankle, feet, and leg swelling
• Awakening during the night with shortness of breath (paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea)
• Breathing difficulty while lying down (orthopnea)
• Cough containing mucus, or pink, frothy material
• Decreased alertness or concentration
• Decreased urine output (oliguria)
• Fatigue, weakness, faintness
• Irregular or rapid pulse
• Loss of appetite
• Need to urinate at night (nocturia)
• Overall swelling
• Sensation of feeling the heart beat (palpitations)
• Shortness of breath, especially with activity (dyspnea)

Exams and Tests

A health care provider will conduct a physical examination, which may show –

• Abnormal heart sounds
• Abnormal lung sounds
• Ankle swelling
• Enlarged liver
• Irregular or rapid heartbeat
• Low blood pressure
• Murmurs
• Swollen neck veins
• Weight gain

Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is usually diagnosed when chronic heavy drinking is discovered as a cause of heart failure.

The following tests may reveal signs of heart failure –

• Echocardiogram may show enlarged heart chambers, leaking valves, or reduced pumping efficiency
• ECG may show signs of enlarged heart chambers or rhythm abnormalities (arrhythmias)
• Cardiac catheterization and coronary angiography may rule out coronary artery blockages as the cause
• Chest x-ray or chest CT may show heart enlargement, fluid buildup in the lungs and valves, and reduced pumping function
• Complete routine laboratory study measures the hormone B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP)

Treatment

You may be placed on a low-salt diet. The amount of liquids you drink may be restricted. It is very important that you stop drinking alcohol completely.

Heart failure may be treated with –

• ACE inhibitors
• Beta blockers
• Diuretics (furosemide and spironolactone)

In people with congestive heart failure and severely weakened heart pumping, an implantable defibrillator (ICD) may help them live longer. Sometimes a biventricular pacemaker can improve symptoms and quality of life. The health care provider may recommend a single device that combines a biventricular pacemaker and an ICD. A heart transplant may be considered when the cardiomyopathy is not reversible. Eventually, nutritional problems involving thiamine, phosphorus, potassium, or magnesium levels may require treatment.

Prevention

Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is a consequence of years of excessive alcohol use. Do not use alcohol in excess. If you drink heavily and find that you cannot cut down or stop drinking, seek help. Control other risk factors for heart disease by maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly. Eat a generally well-balanced, nutritious diet, and avoid smoking.

Why Consider India?

Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy Surgery in India is being offered at a discounted price at various hospitals of Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai and New Delhi. Various Indian Hospitals offer a comprehensive heart-care program that's tailored to your individual needs. Thousands of heart operations and interventional cardiology procedures have been performed at various Indian Corporate hospitals. Their surgical mortality rate for various Cardiac Surgeries including high risk patients is on par with the best Cardiac Centers in the world. Factors such as low cost, scale and range of treatments provided by India differentiate it from other medical tourism destinations. High cost of treatments in the developed countries, particularly the USA and UK, has been forcing patients from such regions to look for alternative and cost-effective destinations to get their treatments done.

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