It’s important to note that alcoholic cardiomyopathy may not cause any symptoms until the disease is more advanced. The best way to reduce your risk of developing alcohol-induced cardiomyopathy is to only drink in moderation. That is especially true if you have any kind of condition that affects how your body processes alcohol. If you experience any of the following effects of heart problems, seek medical attention. Your doctor may use echocardiography (EKG) to determine if there is mild or severe strain on your cardiac function. Patients can expect relief from chest pain within minutes of taking nitrates, with long-term use helping improve heart function and reduce angina attacks.
Mental Health Treatment at Five Palms
As the heart’s function deteriorates, the kidneys may become less efficient at removing excess fluid from the body, leading to weight gain. Patients may notice swelling in the legs, abdomen, or other areas as fluid https://ecosoberhouse.com/ accumulates. Swelling in the legs, or peripheral edema, affects around 50-60% of patients with alcoholic cardiomyopathy. This occurs because the weakened heart struggles to circulate blood effectively, causing fluid to accumulate in the lower extremities. The swelling is often more pronounced in the ankles and feet and may worsen throughout the day, especially after prolonged standing or sitting. In advanced stages, edema can extend to the abdomen and other parts of the body.
What are the symptoms?
Your heart’s shape is part of how that timing works, and when parts of your heart stretch, it can disrupt that timing. If it takes too long — even by tiny fractions of a second— that delay can cause your heart to beat out of sync (a problem called dyssynchrony). Similarly, alcohol can have a toxic effect on your heart and cause scar tissue to form. That scar tissue can also cause potentially life-threatening arrhythmias (irregular heart rhythms). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines heavy alcohol use — also known as heavy drinking — as more than eight drinks per week for women and more than 15 drinks per week for men. One drink is equal to 14 grams of pure alcohol, which can take many different forms because some forms have a higher concentration of alcohol than others.
Imaging tests
At present ACM is considered a specific disease both by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and by the American Heart Association (AHA)18,19. In the ESC consensus document on the classification of cardiomyopathies, ACM is classified among the acquired forms of DCM19. A doctor can guide someone to resources to help them quit drinking and can make referrals. Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is a leading alcoholic cardiomyopathy is especially dangerous because cause of non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy in United States. Cleveland Clinic can diagnose and treat heart failure of any kind, at any stage, with advanced therapies and compassionate care.
Some of the adverse effects of heavy drinking can be reversed if you quit alcohol and adopt healthy lifestyle habits. Unfortunately, severe cases of alcoholic cardiomyopathy can drug addiction treatment lead to permanent damage and even death. If you or someone you know consumes large amounts of alcohol regularly, you should encourage them to try moderation or seek professional help to cut back or quit drinking.
