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Viral cardiomyopathy is a heart condition caused by a viral infection that weakens the heart and causes problems such as shortness of breath, dizziness, and fatigue. Treatment options include medication, lifestyle changes, and alternative therapies. People with a history of viral infections should inform their doctors during routine health screening.
Viral cardiomyopathy is a heart condition caused by a viral infection in the heart. The heart weakens and doesn’t work as it should, causing a variety of problems for the patient. Once cardiomyopathy of any type is diagnosed, the prognosis for the patient is variable, depending on the severity of the condition and the type of treatment options available. Generally, the weakening of the heart will force the patient to make some permanent lifestyle changes.
Viral infections of the heart are not uncommon. Some resolve on their own, especially in healthy individuals, and leave no lasting problems. In other patients, the viral infection causes inflammation and this damages the heart muscles, causing viral cardiomyopathy. Most commonly, viral cardiomyopathy occurs as a form of dilated cardiomyopathy, in which the chambers of the heart become enlarged and the heart has to work harder to pump blood around the body.
The initial viral infection may cause no symptoms or may lead to symptoms so mild that the patient never seeks treatment. Over time, the weakening of the heart causes problems such as shortness of breath, dizziness and fatigue. Medical imaging studies may reveal enlargement of the heart, and the patient may also have tests to evaluate heart function and see how hard the heart is working.
People with viral cardiomyopathy can be treated with medications to improve heart function, and it is also possible to make some diet and lifestyle changes to improve the prognosis for a patient with this condition. Some people benefit from alternative therapies to improve circulation, such as acupuncture. Usually, the patient will need to rest, refrain from high-intensity exercise and heavy work, and be careful of exertion in other settings, as the enlarged heart cannot cope with the increased oxygen demand that accompanies hard work.
Some patients are more at risk for viral heart infections than others, and some viruses are more likely to lead to viral cardiomyopathy. People with active viral infections should seek treatment, as it may be possible to avoid complications such as viral cardiomyopathy by providing prompt, aggressive treatment for the viruses. Patients with a history of viral infection should also make sure their doctors are aware of it during routine health screening, as the virus can be an important diagnostic lead if a doctor is concerned about a patient’s heart function or other problems. .
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