The goal for treating cardiomyopathy is to reduce the frequency and severity of your symptoms. For some patients, this requires surgical intervention. Therapies include:
Lifestyle
Adopting a healthier lifestyle can help you manage and reduce your risk of complications related to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Some changes that your doctor may suggest include: reducing salt intake, eating a healthy diet, limiting alcohol, quitting smoking, losing weight and managing stress. Moderate exercise is recommended; however, discuss this with your doctor first. Some patients need to avoid strenuous exercise.
Medications
There are several ways in which medications can help manage cardiomyopathy. Your doctor may write you a prescription for medications to help the heart contract and relax while relieving pain (beta blockers, calcium channel blockers), maintaining heart rhythm (anti-arrhythmic drugs), and preventing clots and strokes (blood thinners).
Procedures, Devices & Surgery
For patients at high risk for sudden cardiac death or if medications are not relieving symptoms, an implanted defibrillator or pacemaker can be used. When medical treatments and devices cannot sufficiently relieve the symptoms associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death, surgical therapies are recommended. Examples therapies include:
- Septal myectomy is used in cases where the outflow of blood from the heart is blocked and involves the removal of part of the thickened septum to improve outflow.
- Alcohol septal ablation may be suggested in cases where the outflow of blood from the heart is blocked. By injecting alcohol into a coronary artery your doctor can improve outflow.