How to Recognize Restrictive Cardiomyopathy

Restrictive cardiomyopathy is a health condition affecting the heart and its ability to pump blood into the rest of the circulatory system and therefore provide your cells with nutrients they need and oxygen. In this form of cardiomyopathy, the patient has a restriction of the heart, which keeps the heart from pumping blood correctly. Of all the types of cardiomyopathies, this is the least common form found.

Instructions

1. Know what the condition causes. In restrictive cardiomyopathy, an individual's heart has not developed properly or something has changed to cause it to become very restrictive in stretching. In order to pump blood correctly throughout the body, the heart must contract and expand in order to form the pumping action that pushes blood out. The heart does not fill with blood properly and often, the heart is unable to get enough blood flow throughout the body.

2. Realize that individuals that suffer from restrictive cardiomyopathy often have good heart rhythm as the heart is working at the normal pace and method. In addition, the heart may be contracting correctly, but has the inability to expand enough to pump blood flow. For this reason, some cardiomyopathy tests can be shown to be normal function. With further testing, the stiff walls of the heart will be detected.

3. Check for symptoms of cardiomyopathy. Like other forms of cardiomyopathy, with this restrictive form the heart is unable to push enough blood and oxygen through the body which often causes the kidneys to retain water. Bloated feelings, swelling at the ankles and the abdomen as well as the inability to accomplish normally easy physical activity are symptoms of this heart condition.

4. Monitor for symptoms that are worsening, as this often means the cardiomyopathy has gotten o the next level. In time, the patient may develop diastolic dysfunction of the heart. This will lead to heart failure. Heart failure is the heart's inability to pump enough blood throughout the body to keep up with demand. It can be fatal.

5. Work with doctors to diagnose the symptoms and condition. Tests such as an electrocardiogram can help spot the condition.