Early screening, especially in individuals with long-standing alcohol use, is crucial to catching the condition before it becomes symptomatic and more difficult to manage. Nutritional deficiencies are a critical, yet often overlooked, component in the development of alcoholic cardiomyopathy. Chronic alcohol use impairs the absorption of essential vitamins and minerals like thiamine, magnesium, selenium, and coenzyme Q10, all of which are vital for cardiac energy metabolism. Deficiencies in these nutrients can exacerbate mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in heart cells, hastening myocardial weakening and dilation. Even with moderate drinking, poor dietary habits can create a metabolic environment where alcoholic damage accumulates faster.
Orange Juice for Heart Health:…
Generally, following alcohol intake, healthy, non-drinking individuals showed an increase in cardiac output due to a decline in peripheral arterial resistance and an increase in cardiac frequency31. However, during the time that these haemodynamic changes appeared, some researchers identified a possible decrease in the ejection fraction and other parameters related to systolic function32-39. This was questioned by other authors, who pointed out that these conclusions could not be drawn, as alcohol itself also induces changes in the pre-load and after-load conditions, which influence cardiac contractility35. However, in this context, experimental in vitro studies using cardiomyocytes have shown that alcohol depresses the contractile capacity of the myocardium, regardless of the sympathetic tone and the haemodynamic conditions36.
Understanding the Anatomy and Function of the Heart
Additionally, echocardiographic data suggest that subjects who do not fully alcoholism treatment withdraw from alcohol consumption, but who reduce it to moderate amounts recover LVEF in a similar manner to strict non-drinkers. Thus, Nicolás et al73 studied the evolution of the ejection fraction in 55 patients with ACM according to their degree of withdrawal. The population was divided into 3 groups according to their intake volume during the follow-up period. At the end of the first year, no differences were found among the non-drinkers, who improved by 13.1%, and among those who reduced consumption to g/d (with an average improvement of 12.2%). Conversely, those whose consumption remained in excess of 80 g/d showed an average decline of 3.8% in their ejection fraction.
Supportive care for withdrawal is especially important because some of its symptoms can be severe or even life-threatening. A healthcare provider can also connect you with available resources and refer you to other specialists and experts who can help you reduce or stop your alcohol intake. In the absence of myocardial biopsy, the diagnosis of myocarditis is always questionable. However, given the characteristic rise and fall of cardiac enzyme levels, this supports the diagnosis of acute alcohol-induced myocardial damage.
Dilated cardiomyopathy
The journey to recovery from alcohol-induced cardiomyopathy is akin to running a marathon rather than a sprint. Each step taken towards healthier living, no matter how small, is a victory, contributing towards improving heart health and enhancing overall quality of life. By combining abstinence from alcohol, lifestyle modifications, and appropriate pharmacological interventions, individuals with alcoholic cardiomyopathy can effectively manage their condition and enhance their overall cardiac health.
- In a world-wide setting, alcohol use disorders show similarities in developed countries, where alcohol is cheap and readily available 8.
- This leads to reduced ejection fraction, a term that refers to the percentage of blood the left ventricle pumps out with each contraction.
- In light of the available data, new studies will help to clarify the current prognosis of ACM compared to DCM and to determine prognostic factors in ACM that might differ from known prognostic factors in DCM.
- Hypertension due to alcohol may be a confounding comorbidity in that it may contribute to left ventricular (LV) dysfunction; therefore, LV dysfunction due to hypertension must be differentiated from pure AC.
- Nevertheless, many individuals do experience the below-mentioned signs and symptoms at the very beginning of the development of the condition.
- Reversing alcoholic cardiomyopathy requires a multifaceted approach, combining complete abstinence from alcohol, medication management, lifestyle modifications, regular medical monitoring, and psychological support.
With a focus on credibility and clarity, it serves as a go-to resource for readers seeking reliable health news, wellness tips, and advancements in medicine. In the 1989 study by Urbano-Marquez et al, a comparison of symptomatic to asymptomatic patients revealed more extensive fibrosis in patients with symptoms. Richardson et al showed an elevation of creatine kinase, LDH, malic dehydrogenase, and alpha-hydroxybutyric dehydrogenase levels in endomyocardial biopsy specimens taken from 38 patients with DC.
Managing conditions
This can cause various symptoms, including shortness of breath, fluid retention, and fainting. Still, medical professionals have not identified a specific alcohol level toxic to heart cells. They also have not established how long a person would need to consume alcohol before developing ACM. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), AUD is a brain disorder that doctors characterize by the inability to stop or control alcohol consumption. This inability occurs despite adverse effects on the person’s health, occupation, or relationships.
Her baseline laboratory evaluation showed pancytopenia, abnormal liver function tests (Table 1) and elevated cardiac enzyme levels (Table 2). The initial chest x-ray revealed a normal cardiothoracic ratio and no evidence of heart failure. Her electrocardiogram showed sinus tachycardia, a nonspecific T-wave abnormality and right axis deviation. She received aggressive volume resuscitation, and 24 h after admission, she developed severe dyspnea. A subsequent chest x-ray after fluid resuscitation revealed pulmonary edema.
Medical Professionals
- Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy is one of the common diseases that has become the cause of the problem across the globe.
- Consistent medical oversight ensures timely intervention if complications arise.
- With a focus on credibility and clarity, it serves as a go-to resource for readers seeking reliable health news, wellness tips, and advancements in medicine.
- This condition tends to be worse the more you drink and/or the longer you were a heavy drinker.
Advances in wearable cardiac technology may allow for real-time monitoring of heart function in recovering patients. These innovations offer hope not only in understanding how alcohol causes enlarged heart complications but also in developing smarter, more proactive interventions in the near future. If left unaddressed, alcoholic cardiomyopathy can progress to end-stage heart failure, marked by fluid overload, extreme fatigue, and severe exercise intolerance. Arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia become more common, significantly increasing the risk of sudden cardiac death. The weakened heart can also lead to blood pooling and clot formation, raising the likelihood of stroke. Additionally, untreated disease may trigger multi-organ dysfunction, especially in conjunction with cirrhosis or chronic kidney disease.
Lifestyle changes including dietary adjustments, smoking cessation, and regular physical activity are also essential components of care. Over time, these mechanisms cause structural remodeling of the heart—dilation of the chambers and thinning of the walls—which defines the condition known as alcoholic cardiomyopathy. The enlargement of the heart is both a symptom and a consequence of this progressive damage. In patients with DC, if additional questions remain after a history is obtained and noninvasive testing is performed, cardiac catheterization may be used to help exclude other etiologies of heart failure.
Cardiac Catheterization
Other lifestyle changes a person will likely need to make include reducing the amount of fluid they drink or salt they eat. A person can speak with a doctor about any concerns regarding lifestyle changes. Without an adequate supply of blood and oxygen, the body’s organs and tissues can no longer function properly. This can result in various symptoms, including fluid retention and episodes. To make a diagnosis, your doctor alcoholic cardiomyopathy symptoms will perform a physical examination and ask you about your medical history. You should also follow your doctor’s guidance and advice on any treatments you receive.
Alcoholic cardiomyopathy induces this syndrome by affecting the cardiovascular system, rendering it impossible to pump more blood properly. The basic function of the organ is disrupted and become difficult for it to carry its job. Considering a person is only alive till the heart is properly performing its main function that is pumping and supplying blood to other parts of the body the disruption in it is more than dangerous. Excessive drinking is the major reason behind surging alcoholic cardiomyopathy.
