If you have alcoholic cardiomyopathy, you may benefit from attending group alcoholic cardiomyopathy symptoms support meetings for people struggling with AUD and subsequent ACM. 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. People who misuse alcohol for a long time are more likely to develop physical dependence and pharmacological tolerance to alcohol.
- Stopping alcohol consumption and following the advice of your doctor are essential to reversing ACM.
- Moderate alcohol consumption is drinking one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.
- Alcohol works directly on the kidneys at high levels, it can stop them from working properly.
Signs and Symptoms
- The doctor may also order an x-ray, which can show signs of congestion or an echocardiogram and can reveal dilation of the chamber of the heart.
- Some people develop intense bleeding deep within the throat and esophagus.
- The development of heart diseases is multifactorial, involving not only alcohol intake but also genetic predisposition, diet and lifestyle choices.
- Along with the treatment for alcoholic cardiomyopathy, it is crucial that patients address the underlying cause of the excessive drinking in the first place.
- However, the most critical factor in improving outcomes for individuals with alcoholic cardiomyopathy is reducing or abstaining from alcohol use.
- AddictionResource fact-checks all the information before publishing and uses only credible and trusted sources when citing any medical data.
One of the more important steps in treating alcohol liver disease is changing one’s habits. For the best prognosis, a person will generally need to radically change the amount of alcohol they drink. In the past, researchers thought men were more susceptible to liver disease than women. As women begin to drink more alcohol than they did previously, they’re developing liver disease at higher rates.
Conclusion: Protecting Your Heart by Understanding Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy
However, dilated cardiomyopathy can occur without heavy alcohol use, while alcoholic cardiomyopathy is directly linked to chronic alcohol consumption. Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is a form of dilated cardiomyopathy, where the heart’s chambers enlarge and weaken due to alcohol’s toxic effects what is Oxford House on the heart muscle. Over time, the heart struggles to pump blood efficiently, leading to symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, and leg swelling. If untreated, it can progress to heart failure, a life-threatening condition requiring immediate medical attention. Abstinence from alcohol is critical in the management of alcohol-induced cardiomyopathy. Continued alcohol consumption can worsen heart function and increase the risk of complications such as arrhythmias, heart failure, and sudden cardiac death.
What are the side effects when treating Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy (Alcohol-related Heart Damage)?
Since patients with prolonged abuse of alcohol are prone to vitamin insufficiencies, treatment with thiamine, vitamin B-12, folate, and mineral supplementation is advised. Any electrolyte imbalance should be treated early to help prevent the occurrence of an arrhythmia and sudden death. Another therapeutic aspect is the cautious use of anticoagulants in patients with left ventricular impairment and atrial fibrillation. Hence, the patient should be aided and encouraged to cease and abstain from alcohol. This includes providing the patient with education, counseling, and resources to guide the challenging process.