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  • Essay / Cardiomyopathy Essay - 863

    Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) refers to a condition in which the heart becomes enlarged and weakened and is therefore unable to sufficiently pump blood to the rest of the body. The left ventricle is generally more affected than the right (American Stroke Association [ASA], 2011). There are different types of cardiomyopathy, but DCM is the most common, as it is thought to occur in at least one in 2,500 people. This situation is potentially even more common, as better understanding of the disease means that a more people receive a correct diagnosis (Ku, Feiger, Taylor, & Mestroni, 2003). DCM also accounts for approximately 55-60% of all cases of cardiomyopathy in children. In the United States, approximately one in 160,000 children are diagnosed with DCM each year (ASA, 2011). Dilated cardiomyopathy is caused by various factors, including genetics. As more studies are done on family genes and family history, it is believed that the risk of DCM may be hereditary. In one study, almost 30% of people diagnosed with this type of cardiomyopathy have a close relative with this disease who may have no symptoms or has not yet been properly diagnosed (Baig et al., 1998). It is estimated that 30-50% of people with DCM of unknown cause (idiopathic) have one or more family members with similar cardiac dysfunction. This implies that heredity is a risk factor in the development of the disease (Ku et al., 2003). DCM is also caused by a number of other factors, the most common of which is heart disease resulting from narrowing of the arteries and insufficient control. hypertension (Chen, 2012). Chen (2012) lists other risks of DCM, such as drinking too much alcohol or abusing cocaine, as these behaviors can be toxic to the heart. Abnormal...... middle of paper ...... radiogram. Chest x-rays taken will show the size of the heart at that time, while subsequent x-rays can reveal any changes in the size of the heart that may occur as the disease progresses (ASA, 2011). An electrocardiogram (ECG) is used to record electrical activity in the heart and can provide evidence of thickening or enlargement of the heart's chambers, as well as any arrhythmias that may occur (ASA, 2011). Other diagnostics to detect abnormal heart structure and altered heart rhythm. These functions include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), coronary angiography, and even cardiac stress testing (Chen, 2012). Additionally, laboratory tests can help in the diagnosis of DCM. These include antinuclear antibody (ANA) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) tests to identify any autoimmune diseases, as well as antibody tests to detect possible infections (Chen, 2012).