Written by Renata Filiaci, MS Health and Wellness

Cardiomyopathies are a functional impairment of the muscle of the heart. Cardiomyopathies are a group of diseases classified as primary or secondary, which lead to progressive heart failure with significant morbidity and mortality if not treated. Primary cardiomyopathy is typically genetic, mixed, hypertensive, post or peripartum, or acquired inflammatory, while secondary is caused by autoimmune, infiltration, toxicity, or inflammatory; however classification continues to evolve. Major types are dilated, hypertrophic, and restrictive cardiomyopathy. Dilated cardiomyopathy is associated with the dilation of one or both ventricular chambers, causing cardiac failure. Dilated is primarily due to alcohol, genetic abnormality, pregnancy, or postviral myocarditis. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is associated with a solidifying and hyperkinetic ventricular muscle mass; this is the leading cause of sudden death in athletes (Wexler, Elton, Pleister, & Feldman, 2009). This is significantly genetic which is due to abnormalities of the cardiac sarcomere proteins, genetic coding for myosin, and mutations in other cytoskeletal proteins. Restrictive cardiomyopathy is rare as the ventricle becomes stiff and fibrotic impairing diastolic filling. It could be caused by amyloidosis, radiation injury, iron overload, glycogen storage diseases, and sarcoidosis (Banasik & Copstead, 2019; Wexler, Elton, Pleister, & Feldman, 2009).

Although symptoms are not always apparent in early stages of the disease, symptoms may present themselves as shortness of breath, fatigue, cough, orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, and edema. To diagnose cardiomyopathy, physicians can check peptide levels, baseline serum chemistries, as well as, a patient may receive an electrocardiography or echocardiography (Wexler, Elton, Pleister, & Feldman, 2009). Allopathic medicinal treatment is administration of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker, a loop diuretic, spironolactone, anticoagulants, antiarrhythmics, corticosteroids, and beta blockers (Heart.org, 2016; Wexler, Elton, Pleister, & Feldman, 2009). Surgery is also an option, such as an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator for high risk of sudden death or surgical revascularization with ventricular surgical reconstruction; however, it does not necessarily fix the problem (Wexler, Elton, Pleister, & Feldman, 2009).

Significant lifestyle changes support the prevention and treatment of cardiomyopathy. A complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) support protocol can manage the condition as well as prevent future damage and heart failure. It is a necessity to reduce and eliminate excessive alcohol, drug, and cigarette use as they are inflammatory causing agents (Heart.org, 2016). Avoiding other inflammatory causing agents, such as stress, depression, saturated and trans fats, sugar, and dairy, is essential in eliminating hyperglycemia and coronary inflammation. These agents cause oxidative stress which activates proinflammatory cytokine production (Kiecolt-Glaser, 2010). To manage and reduce stress and depression to help maintain heart health, incorporate meditation and exercise into a lifestyle practice. Meditation and exercise release endorphins which act as a mood booster and lower blood pressure; exercise also strengthens the heart muscle (Harvard Health Publishing, 2019). 

The adoption of a healthy and whole food plant-based diet paired with exercise is shown to be exponential in reducing and eliminating weight, hyperglycemia, cardiac disease, blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides, as well as potentially replace any high-risk heart surgeries. A whole foods plant-based diet eliminates red meat products  as well as processed meats and consists of all vegetables, fruits, whole grains, potatoes, legumes, and nuts (Choi, Allen, McDonnough, Massera, & Ostfeld, 2017; Eilat-Adar, Sinai, Yosefy, & Henkin, 2013). Herbal supplements are beneficial in protecting heart function, reducing inflammation, and working as an antioxidant. Incorporating fish-oil supplementation into the diet is a favorable omega-3, which boosts the mood and prevents unnecessary inflammation (Kiecolt-Glaser, 2010). Hawthorn, a healthy heart herb, relieves heart failure symptoms and protects against further damage caused by cardiomyopathy. Coenzyme Q10 is a great antioxidant to improve quality of life, heart function, and survival rates (Michigan Medicine, 2015).

Banasik, J. L. & Copstead, L-E. C. (2019). Pathophysiology (6th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Inc.

Choi, E. Y., Allen, K., McDonnough, M., Massera, D., & Ostfeld, R. J. (2017). A plant-based diet and heart failure: case report and literature review. Journal of geriatric cardiology: JGC, 14(5), 375-378. doi: 10.11909/j.issn.1671-5411.2017.05.003

Eilat-Adar, S., Sinai, T., Yosefy, C., & Henkin, Y. (2013). Nutritional recommendations for cardiovascular disease prevention. Nutrients, 5(9), 3646-83. doi:10.3390/nu5093646

Harvard Health Publishing. (2019). 5 ways to de-stress and help your heart. Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/5-ways-to-de-stress-and-help-your-heart

Heart.org. (2016, March 31). Prevention and Treatment of Cardiomyopathy. Retrieved from https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cardiomyopathy/prevention-and-treatment-of-cardiomyopathy

Kiecolt-Glaser J. K. (2010). Stress, food, and inflammation: psychoneuroimmunology and nutrition at the cutting edge. Psychosomatic medicine, 72(4), 365-9. doi: 10.1097/PSY.0b013e3181dbf489

Michigan Medicine. (2015, June 8). Cardiomyopathy (Holistic). Retrieved from https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/hn-1183002                                                                                                                                       

Wexler, R. K., Elton, T., Pleister, A., & Feldman, D. (2009). Cardiomyopathy: an overview. American family physician, 79(9), 778-84. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2999879/