Pittsburgh’s Leading Cardiology Center
Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy is a serious condition that can pose serious risks to your health. If you’ve been diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, you’re at an increased risk of heart failure, and you’ll want to put your trust in a highly-experienced team to treat and manage your condition.
At Shadyside Cardiovascular, PLLC, our team of specially-trained cardiologists will work directly with your primary physician to detect signs of cardiomyopathy and begin treatment as soon as possible. Our physicians have the specialized skills and advanced training to provide comprehensive care and improve outcomes for patients whose hearts are compromised by cardiomyopathy.
As an independent group of medical specialists who provide cardiovascular care for office and hospital patients, we make every effort to deliver personalized, professional services to each person we see. If you’re ready to receive the best care available in Pittsburgh for cardiomyopathy, schedule your first appointment with Shadyside Cardiovascular, PLLC.
Expert Cardiomyopathy Care
Cardiomyopathy Types & Treatments
In a case of cardiomyopathy, the heart is affected by a disease that makes pumping blood difficult. When your heart struggles to pump as it should, your entire body can begin to struggle, and ultimately, your heart can fail entirely. When left untreated, cardiomyopathy is frequently a cause of heart failure.
There are three main types of cardiomyopathy:
- Dilated cardiomyopathy, in which the left ventricle of your heart stretches and grows thin, leaving it unable to pump blood correctly.
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, in which the heart muscle itself has “atrophied,” becoming excessively thick.
- Restrictive cardiomyopathy, in which your heart’s chambers become stiff, affecting their ability to pump blood.
While many patients experience no symptoms in early stages, cardiomyopathy can begin to cause palpable symptoms as it progresses without treatment. These symptoms include:
- Feeling out of breath
- Coughing when lying down
- Fainting or feeling faint
- Bloating in the abdomen
- Swelling in the lower extremities
- Chronic fatigue
- Tachycardia (chronic rapid heart beating)
- Dizziness
- Pressure or discomfort in the chest
The course of your treatment plan will depend on the type of cardiomyopathy you’re struggling with, as well as the severity of your condition. Some of the most common treatment actions we take against cardiomyopathy at Shadyside Cardiovascular, PLLC include:
- Medication
- Interventional care
Whether you need restrictive cardiomyopathy treatment, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy treatment, or dilated cardiomyopathy treatment, the team at Shadyside Cardiovascular, PLLC can help. Our Clinical Cardiology services and Invasive & Interventional Cardiology services address the needs of those with cardiomyopathy, allowing us to offer accurate diagnoses and top-level care.
To ensure the safety of you surgical procedure, pre-operative cardiac evaluation is often recommended to decrease risk. Our team at Shadyside Cardiovascular, PLLC will work with your surgeon to optimize your cardiac care during and after the surgical procedure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common cause of cardiomyopathy?
While the exact cause of each individual’s cardiomyopathy is usually unknown, research suggests that the top risk may be genetic -- if you have a family history of cardiomyopathy, it’s important to share this with your primary care provider and cardiologist.
Additionally, certain other medical conditions can increase your risk of cardiomyopathy, including:
- Hypertension
- Previous heart attack
- COVID-19 infection
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Connective tissue disorders
- Complications during pregnancy
- Use of drugs such as alcohol, cocaine, amphetamines and steroids
- Long-term tachycardia
- Previous use of some forms of chemotherapy
Do you offer cardiomyopathy treatment via telehealth?
The team at Shadyside Cardiovascular, PLLC is proud to provide consultative services via telemedicine to offer our patients a safe, convenient method of managing their heart health. If you have questions about our telemedicine capabilities, don’t hesitate to ask us.
How can I get started with the best heart specialist near me?
The team at Shadyside Cardiovascular, PLLC wants to make scheduling your first appointment with us as easy as possible. Just use our online tool to schedule with us, or give us a call at (412) 688-6414.