What are the warning signs of cardiomyopathy?

Symptoms

Shortness of breath with activity or when lying down.
Fatigue and weakness.
Swelling in the legs, ankles and feet.
Rapid or irregular heartbeat.
Reduced ability to exercise.
Persistent cough or wheezing with white or pink blood-tinged mucus.
Swelling of the belly area (abdomen)

How does cardiomyopathy affect pregnancy?

Women with peripartum cardiomyopathy have an increased risk of complications during future pregnancies, especially if the heart dysfunction continues. About 6% to 8% of women develop high blood pressure, also called hypertension, during pregnancy.

Does pregnancy cause cardiomyopathy?

Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a rare type of heart failure. It occurs during pregnancy or immediately after delivery. The condition weakens the heart muscle and causes the heart to become enlarged. As a result, the heart can’t pump blood properly to the rest of the body.

What is the main cause of cardiomyopathy?

Viral infections in the heart are a major cause of cardiomyopathy. In some cases, another disease or its treatment causes cardiomyopathy. This might include complex congenital (present at birth) heart disease, nutritional deficiencies, uncontrollable, fast heart rhythms, or certain types of chemotherapy for cancer.

What are the stages of cardiomyopathy?

There are four stages of heart failure, named A, B, C and D.

Heart Failure Stage A. Pre-heart failure, which means that you are at high risk of developing heart failure.
Heart Failure Stage B.
Heart Failure Stage C.
Heart Failure Stage D.

What is the most common form of pregnancy related cardiomyopathy?

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM), which is the most common cardiomyopathy found in pregnancy, is often included in DCM.

What type of cardiomyopathy is pregnancy?

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM), also known as postpartum cardiomyopathy, is an uncommon form of heart failure that happens during the last month of pregnancy or up to five months after giving birth. Cardiomyopathy literally means heart muscle disease.

How common is cardiomyopathy in pregnancy?

PPCM is rare in the United States, Canada, and Europe. About 1,000 to 1,300 women develop the condition in the U.S. each year.

Can you fully recover from cardiomyopathy?

For example, patients with a very low ejection fraction can eventually completely recover from peripartum cardiomyopathy. Some patients recover only part of their heart function over a period of six months or longer. With others, the heart returns to full strength in as little as two weeks.