Cardiomyopathy (cont.)
Medical Author:
Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM
Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEMDr. Ben Wedro practices emergency medicine at Gundersen Clinic, a regional trauma center in La Crosse, Wisconsin. His background includes undergraduate and medical studies at the University of Alberta, a Family Practice internship at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and residency training in Emergency Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Medical Editor:
Daniel Lee Kulick, MD, FACC, FSCAI
Daniel Lee Kulick, MD, FACC, FSCAIDr. Kulick received his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Southern California, School of Medicine. He performed his residency in internal medicine at the Harbor-University of California Los Angeles Medical Center and a fellowship in the section of cardiology at the Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiology. Medical Editor:
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACRDr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology. IN THIS ARTICLEPreventionCardiomyopathy is a term that describes the end result of many diseases and illnesses. The type of heart muscle damage that occurs and the subsequent decrease in the pumping capability of the heart depends upon the injury, the amount of damage to the heart, and the potential for recovery. Some cardiomyopathies are completely preventable, for example alcoholic cardiomyopathy due to long-term excessive alcohol consumption. Others are unavoidable such as cardiomyopathy due to a viral infection. Living a healthy lifestyle will help minimize the risk of developing some cardiomyopathies. This includes maintaining a healthy, balanced diet and pursuing a routine exercise regimen, For ischemic cardiomyopathy, risk reduction includes life-long control of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. In patients who are at risk for genetic cardiomyopathy such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, screening echocardiograms may be advisable to prevent sudden cardiac death. Must Read Articles Related to Cardiomyopathy
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