Myocardiopathy
Brianna Zeigler
Brown Mackie College
April 27, 2015

Myocardiopathy
The heart is one of the most complex parts of the body, however, it can be susceptible to many life threatening conditions or illnesses. For example, Cardiomyopathy, of which is life threatening, and sometimes hard to detect until it is sadly too late. Cardiomyopathy is a hit and miss disease of the heart muscle, and can affect people of all ages, although it is mostly inherited. This disease is not curable, but can more than likely be treated successfully. Cardiomyopathy includes, but is not limited to: The effects on the cardiovascular system, the reasoning behind it, the signs and symptoms, the long process, and the treatment plan.
Cardiomyopathy weakens the quality of the cardiac muscle and diminishes its ability to get oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body. As cardiomyopathy progresses into the life-threatening disease we know it as, the heart begins to weaken. Futile efforts to pump blood through the body deplete other muscles from receiving oxygen. Another effect of the disease is the ability to disrupt the electrical rhythm of the heart. This can lead to heart failure, and arrhythmias, irregular heartbeats. Sequentially, heart failure can cause excess fluid to accumulate in the body’s extremities and abdomen. Lack of heart valve operation can occur.
The true causes of cardiomyopathy is still unknown. Although the cause cannot be truly determined, experts have drafted a list of the possible sources, these include: genetics, heart valve problems, excessive alcohol abuse, chemotherapy drugs, and the prolonged use of steroids or hard drugs.
Although the causes cannot be triangulated, the symptoms are easy to notice. Shortness of breath and fatigue are two of the simple symptoms. A much more serious indication of the disease is swelling in ankles, feet,