Cardiotoxicity refers to heart damage that occurs in response to certain drugs, such as alcohol. Alcoholic cardiomyopathy treatment may include medications, surgery, or a combination. Various medications can help ease the symptoms of alcoholic cardiomyopathy. If the heart is severely damaged, the chances of a full recovery are low. If the disease is caught early, stopping alcohol use completely and taking certain medications can help restore the heart’s function. This is especially true if your genetic condition affects how your body metabolizes alcohol.
Patient History
Hypertension due to alcohol may be a confounding comorbidity in that it may contribute to left ventricular (LV) dysfunction; therefore, LV dysfunction due to hypertension must be differentiated from pure AC. Excessive alcohol intake may result in increased systemic blood pressure in a dose-response relationship, and this may contribute to chronic myocardial dysfunction. Patients who consume more than two drinks per day have a 1.5- to 2-fold increase in hypertension compared with persons who do not drink alcohol, and this effect is most prominent when the daily intake of alcohol exceeds five drinks. Because hypertension may directly contribute to LV dysfunction, this may be a confounding comorbidity in persons who abuse alcohol, and it should be differentiated from pure forms of alcoholic cardiomyopathy.
Histologic Findings
However, for others, the effects of alcohol-induced cardiomyopathy may be life-long. Even in cases where people can undergo a heart transplant, individuals with a history of alcohol-induced cardiomyopathy are more likely to face other health problems down the road. Completely abstaining from alcohol is the key recommendation if you have alcohol-induced cardiomyopathy. Your healthcare provider will likely recommend that you also focus on improving your diet in ways that help your heart. This usually involves limiting your sodium (salt) and cholesterol intake and ensuring you are getting a diet that provides all essential nutrients.
Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy Treatment
The first and most important recommendation from a doctor will likely be reducing or eliminating alcohol impact. Of course, that can be a difficult change to make especially when withdrawal symptoms enter the equation. Therapy to build a guided plan to recovery can be an important part of taking this step. Animal studies have suggested a benefit from vitamins B-1 and B-12, speculated to be due to protective effects against apoptosis and protein damage.
Complications
Those who don’t fully recover are also likely to need this kind of treatment indefinitely. In some cases, a pacemaker or other implantable device might be necessary to treat more severe heart rhythm problems. Continued heavy alcohol use, on the other hand, will continue to make alcoholic cardiomyopathy worse. In addition, people who receive early treatment for ACM, including medication and lifestyle modifications, have a better chance of improving their heart function and overall health.
Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy and Your Health
- That weakens your heart muscle, keeping it from pumping as well as it should.
- The heart is unable to pump blood efficiently, leading to heart failure.
- In patients exhibiting chronic alcohol use, other causes of dilated cardiomyopathy need workup.
Findings from gross examination include an enlarged heart with four-chamber dilatation and overall increased cardiac mass. Electron microscopy reveals mitochondrial enlargement and disorganization, dilatation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum, fat and glycogen deposition, and dilatation of the intercalating discs. Echocardiography is perhaps the most useful initial diagnostic tool in the evaluation of patients with heart failure. Because what is alcoholism of the ease and speed of the test and its noninvasive nature, it is the study of choice in the initial and follow-up evaluation of most forms of cardiomyopathy. In addition, it provides information not only on overall heart size and function, but on valvular structure and function, wall motion and thickness, and pericardial disease.
- In the setting of acute alcohol use or intoxication, this is called holiday heart syndrome, because the incidence is increased following weekends and during holiday seasons.
- Symptoms continue to improve as the heart begins to recover and go slowly back to its previous strength.
- Findings from gross examination include an enlarged heart with four-chamber dilatation and overall increased cardiac mass.
- Other deficiencies including nutritional such as thiamine or other toxic materials ingested may lead to additional concomitant complications.
Alcoholic cardiomyopathy can present with signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure. Patients may present with dilated cardiomyopathy with systolic dysfunction. Symptoms include gradual onset worsening shortness of breath, orthopnea/paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea. Palpitations and syncopal episodes can occur due to tachyarrhythmias seen in alcoholic cardiomyopathy.
These patients may also benefit from a dietary consult to assess nutrition. The key to diagnosis is a personal history of chronic heavy alcohol use and the absence of other etiologies. To make a diagnosis, your doctor will perform a physical examination and ask you about your medical history. While alcohol-induced cardiomyopathy comes from long-term alcohol abuse, there’s no universal limit or number that means you’ll develop it. However, researchers have pinpointed certain behaviors that make it more likely you’ll develop this condition.
Abnormal heart sounds, murmurs, ECG abnormalities, and enlarged heart on chest x-ray may lead to the diagnosis. Your doctor will also alcoholic cardiomyopathy is especially dangerous because ask you about your medical history and drinking habits. It’s important to be honest with your doctor about the extent of your alcohol use, including the number and amount of drinks you have each day.