The heart muscle can be affected by two disorders known as dilated cardiomyopathy and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. However, these illnesses manifest themselves in very different ways. Let’s go deeper into the specifics and find out a few facts about hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathy in case you’re unsure which type you have or just want additional knowledge about the distinctions between the two.
Keep in mind that it is absolutely necessary to discuss any concerns you may have regarding your health with a trained medical expert!
What does it mean to have dilated cardiomyopathy?
According to Ray Hershberger, M.D., a cardiologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, the term “dilate” means to become wider or larger, and the way that this applies to the condition known as dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is that the left ventricle becomes enlarged.
What exactly is meant by the term “hypertrophic cardiomyopathy”?
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a condition in which the muscle of the left ventricle of the heart, which is one of the bottom two chambers of your heart, grows thicker than it normally would be. When it comes to building muscle in the gym, hypertrophy is one of the most important strategies, but when it occurs in the muscle of your heart, it may be dangerous.
In contrast to HCM, the heart muscle with this has a normal thickness or may even be a bit thinner; […] DCM is the most common cause of patients needing a heart transplant, and is responsible for up to half of heart failure cases connected to a weakened left ventricle, explains Ray Hershberger, M.D., a cardiologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
What Are the Symptoms of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy as Opposed to Dilated Cardiomyopathy?
According to Robert Segal, M.D., who specializes in cardiology, two illnesses that can impact the function of the heart may appear with symptoms that are quite similar to one another. They are as follows:
- Lightheadedness or dizziness
- Chest pain
- Arrhythmia due to fatigue, which causes the sensation of a “skipped” pulse
- Recurrent instances of passing out
- Legs that are swollen from fluid retention as a result of the condition
- Symptoms of shortness of breath, particularly during physical activity
One of the key distinctions between the two disorders is that DCM is often associated with a greater degree of breathlessness than HCM. This includes a symptom that is known as paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, which indicates that you get up after one or two hours of sleep with unexpected breathing problems that can only be remedied by sitting up for several minutes to collect your breath before being capable of lying back down again.
People who have been confirmed to have HCM have a higher prevalence of mood disorders and anxiety in comparison to the general population, which may be linked to their concern that they will experience a fatal aneurysm or cardiac arrest because of the condition. The study was published in Heart, Lung and Circulation.
Other symptoms of breathing issues include the sensation that you are unable to catch a full breath or that you must change your body position in order to breathe better. For example, you could feel that you need to stand up from sitting in order to breathe better. Always keep in mind how important it is to discuss with your doctor when dealing with any kind of health problem!
