Risk factors for Cardiomyopathy
Why is understanding the risk factors for cardiomyopathy so important? Well, medical research is always revealing different direct connections between risk factors and quality of life and life span. Realizing these connections exist allows you to develop a plan, and make the best choices possible. Decisions you make now that compromise your health could have serious consequences in the future, and cardiomyopathy is no exception.
Risk factors for Cardiomyopathy
Risk factors for cardiomyopathy depend on the type.
Dilated cardiomyopathy risk factors encompass lifestyle choices as well as genetic traits. In fact, a good deal of the risk factors for cardiomyopathy of this type are actually other diseases. The most common factors include:
- coronary artery disease
- toxic exposure to drugs like cocaine, methamphetamines, cobalt, and certain cancer treating drugs
- family history
- myocarditis (inflammation of heart walls)
- pregnancy
- sleep apnea
- high blood pressure
- heavy and long-term alcohol consumption
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy has a relatively small set of risk factors. Although it is considered primarily a genetic disease (passed down from relatives), risk factors for cardiomyopathy of this type can also include environmental conditions.
Restrictive cardiomyopathy is the last type to be discussed. Risk factors for cardiomyopathy of this type fall into three main categories:
Genetic. While you can’t actually inherit restrictive cardiomyopathy, you can inherit the diseases that cause it.
Cancer Treatment. Radiation and different types of chemotherapy drugs increase risk.
Other diseases. Scores of diseases and ailments have been directly linked to the development of restrictive cardiomyopathy. Ask your doctor for the list, and whether or not you are at risk of contracting any of them.
Be aware that having risk factors for cardiomyopathy and actually contracting cardiomyopathy are two very different things, and having risk factors does not make the disease inevitable.