{"id":462,"date":"2025-06-04T09:49:50","date_gmt":"2025-06-04T09:49:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.barnaclinic.com\/blog\/cardiologia\/?p=462"},"modified":"2025-06-05T12:16:44","modified_gmt":"2025-06-05T12:16:44","slug":"cardiomyopathies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.barnaclinic.com\/blog\/cardiologia\/en\/cardiomyopathies\/","title":{"rendered":"Cardiomyopathies: heart muscle diseases we can treat today"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Cardiomyopathies<\/strong> are a group of <strong>diseases that affect the heart muscle<\/strong>. Some of them are genetic, meaning they can be inherited and affect several members of the same family\u2014what we refer to as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.barnaclinic.com\/blog\/cardiologia\/en\/inherited-heart-diseases\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>genetic or inherited heart conditions<\/strong><\/a>. <strong>At barnacl\u00ednic+, we treat these diseases with a comprehensive approach<\/strong>: accurate diagnosis, personalized follow-up, and genetic screening when necessary.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<h2>What is a cardiomyopathy?<\/h2>\n<p>A <strong><em>cardiomyopathy<\/em><\/strong> is a <strong>heart muscle disease<\/strong> that affects its structure and function. It can cause the heart to become <strong>weakened<\/strong>, stiff, or to contract abnormally. There are several types of cardiomyopathies:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Dilated cardiomyopathy<\/strong><\/span>: the <strong>heart enlarges and loses contractile strength<\/strong>, leading to <em>heart failure<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy<\/span><\/strong>: the <strong>heart muscle thickens<\/strong> excessively, obstructing blood flow.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Restrictive cardiomyopathy<\/strong><\/span>: the <strong>heart muscle becomes rigid<\/strong>, impairing its ability to fill properly.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy<\/strong><\/span>: progressive <strong>replacement of muscle tissue by fat or fibrosis<\/strong>, which can lead to <strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.barnaclinic.com\/en\/specialties\/7\/arritmias\">arrhythmias<\/a><\/em><\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Non-dilated left ventricular cardiomyopathy<\/strong> (previously known as <strong>arrhythmogenic left ventricular cardiomyopathy<\/strong>): it is characterized by the presence of myocardial scarring, typically identified via cardiac MRI, and may be associated with <strong>potentially malignant <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.barnaclinic.com\/en\/specialties\/7\/arritmias\">arrhythmias<\/a><\/em><\/strong>, among other complications.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div align=\"center\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/qbW1rWOSVbs\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<blockquote>\n<h4>\u201cEarly diagnosis of cardiomyopathy can dramatically change the outcome\u201d<\/h4>\n<p>Dr. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.barnaclinic.com\/en\/professionals\/625\/elena\"><strong>Elena Arbelo<\/strong><\/a>, cardiologist at barnacl\u00ednic+ and Head of the Unit of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.barnaclinic.com\/en\/cardiology\/familial-heart-disease\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Family Heart Diseas<\/strong><\/a> and Sudden Death Associated Syndromes at Hospital Cl\u00ednic Barcelona<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Early diagnosis of cardiomyopathies<\/strong> is essential. Often, these <strong>heart diseases<\/strong> show no symptoms until advanced stages or appear suddenly with serious events such as heart failure, <strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.barnaclinic.com\/en\/specialties\/7\/arritmias\">arrhythmias<\/a><\/em><\/strong>, strokes, and even fainting or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.barnaclinic.com\/blog\/cardiologia\/en\/sudden-death-in-adults\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><em>sudden cardiac death<\/em><\/strong><\/a>. This is why, at barnacl\u00ednic+, we recommend screening first-degree relatives when there&#8217;s a history of <strong>cardiomyopathy<\/strong> or unexplained cardiac events.<\/p>\n<h2>Main symptoms and complications of cardiomyopathy<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Signs and symptoms of cardiomyopathy<\/strong> may include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h4>Fatigue and reduced exercise tolerance<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h4>Shortness of breath (dyspnea)<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h4>Palpitations and <strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.barnaclinic.com\/en\/specialties\/7\/arritmias\">arrhythmias<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h4>Fainting (syncope) or loss of consciousness<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h4>Increased risk of <em>stroke<\/em> due to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.barnaclinic.com\/blog\/en\/blog\/atrial-fibrillation-electroporation\/\"><em>atrial fibrillation<\/em><\/a> and blood clot formation<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Swelling in the legs (edema).<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Some <strong>inherited cardiomyopathies<\/strong> may progress into more serious forms with a high risk of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.barnaclinic.com\/blog\/cardiologia\/en\/sudden-death-in-adults\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><em>sudden cardiac death<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, particularly in young individuals or athletes.<\/p>\n<h2>Treating cardiomyopathy: from medication to defibrillators<\/h2>\n<p>We have various effective strategies for the <strong>treatment of cardiomyopathy<\/strong>, all aimed at improving quality of life and preventing serious complications:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Medications<\/strong><\/span>: to relieve symptoms, manage <strong><em>heart failure<\/em><\/strong>, and lower the risk of arrhythmias.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Subcutaneous defibrillator (ICD)<\/strong><\/span>: for patients at high risk of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.barnaclinic.com\/blog\/cardiologia\/en\/sudden-death-in-adults\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><em>sudden cardiac death<\/em><\/strong><\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Septal reduction surgery<\/strong><\/span> (myectomy): for selected cases of <strong><em>hypertrophic cardiomyopathy<\/em><\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Arrhythmia ablation<\/strong><\/span>: in patients with recurrent arrhythmias.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Genetic testing and family screening<\/strong><\/span>: essential for managing <em>genetic heart conditions<\/em>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote>\n<h4>\u201cWith the right treatment, many people with cardiomyopathy can live long and active lives\u201d<\/h4>\n<p>Dr. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.barnaclinic.com\/en\/professionals\/625\/elena\"><strong>Elena Arbelo<\/strong><\/a>, cardiologist at barnacl\u00ednic+ and Head of the Unit of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.barnaclinic.com\/en\/cardiology\/familial-heart-disease\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Family Heart Diseas<\/strong><\/a> and Sudden Death Associated Syndromes at Hospital Cl\u00ednic Barcelona<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2>Expert care with the experience of Hospital Cl\u00ednic Barcelona<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Cardiomyopathy care at barnacl\u00ednic+<\/strong> is provided by the same <a href=\"https:\/\/www.clinicbarcelona.org\/en\/institute\/the-clinics-institute-of-cardiovascular-medicine\">specialists from Hospital Cl\u00ednic Barcelona<\/a>, a <strong>leading international center for the diagnosis and treatment of heart diseases<\/strong>. From clinical evaluation to advanced testing, family follow-up, and translational research, we offer highly specialized, comprehensive care.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<div id=\"estoy-interesado\" class=\"destacat-site\">\n<h3 style=\"padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 15px;\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"color: white;\">Want to learn more about the diagnosis and treatment of cardiomyopathies or inherited heart diseases?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-size: 18px; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 15px;\" align=\"center\">Contact the <strong>Family Heart Disease Unit at barnacl\u00ednic+<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px; padding-right: 20px;\" align=\"center\"><a class=\"button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.barnaclinic.com\/en\/solicitar-cita\/?profesional=625\">WE CAN HELP YOU<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<div align=\"center\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/KQscAEciyio\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/div>\n<hr \/>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cardiomyopathies are a group of diseases that affect the heart muscle. Some of them are genetic, meaning they can be inherited and affect several members of the same family\u2014what we refer to as genetic or inherited heart conditions. At barnacl\u00ednic+, we treat these diseases with a comprehensive approach: accurate diagnosis, personalized follow-up, and genetic screening [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":458,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[77,76,321,323],"tags":[78,426,400,423,430,338,432,428,434,228,427,431,433,435,429,425,80,424],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v19.14 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Cardiomyopathies: diseases of the heart muscle. Can be cured!<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Cardiomyopathies are a group of diseases that affect the heart muscle. 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