Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Care Instructions

Overview

Dilated cardiomyopathy is a condition that weakens your heart muscle and causes it to stretch (dilate). Your heart can't pump out blood as well as it should. More blood stays in your heart after each heartbeat.

Dilated cardiomyopathy can run in some families. It can be caused by another disease or condition. Sometimes the cause is not known.

You may not have any symptoms at first. Or you may feel very tired or weak. If your heart gets weaker, your heart doesn't pump as much blood as your body needs (heart failure). If this happens, you may have shortness of breath or trouble breathing when you lie down.

Treatment goals are to slow the disease and help you feel better. You may take medicines or get a device such as a pacemaker. There are things you can do every day to feel better and stay as healthy as possible.

Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.

How can you care for yourself at home?

Medicines

• Be safe with medicines. Take your medicines exactly as prescribed. Call your doctor if you think you are having a problem with your medicine. You may be taking some of the following medicines:
  • Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs). These make it easier for blood to flow.
  • Diuretics. These help remove excess fluid from the body.
  • Beta-blockers. These slow the heart rate and can help the heart fill with blood more completely.

Heart-healthy lifestyle

• Be active. Exercise regularly, but don't exercise too hard. If you aren't already active, your doctor may want you to start exercising. But don't start until you have talked with your doctor to make an exercise program that is safe for you.
• If you smoke, vape, or use other tobacco or nicotine products, try to quit. If you can’t quit, cut back as much as you can. If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor about quit programs and medicines. These can increase your chances of quitting for good.
• Limit alcohol and if you use drugs, quit or cut back as much as you can. Talk to your doctor if you need help quitting. Counseling, support groups, and sometimes medicines can help.
• Eat a heart-healthy diet.
• Stay at a weight that's healthy for you. Talk to your doctor if you need help losing weight.
• If your doctor recommends it, limit sodium. This helps keep fluid from building up in your body. It may help you feel better.
• Manage other health problems. These include diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
• Stay up to date on vaccines, including flu, COVID-19, and pneumococcal vaccines.

Weight monitoring

• Weigh yourself without clothing at the same time each day. Record your weight. Call your doctor if you have a sudden weight gain, such as more than 2 to 3 pounds in a day or 5 pounds in a week. (Your doctor may suggest a different range of weight gain.) A sudden weight gain may mean that your condition is getting worse.

Call 911 anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:

• You have symptoms of sudden heart failure. These may include:
  • Severe trouble breathing.
  • A fast or irregular heartbeat.
  • Coughing up pink, foamy mucus.
  • Passing out.
• You have chest pain.

Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:

• You have new or changed symptoms of heart failure, such as:
  • New or increased shortness of breath.
  • New or worse swelling in your legs, ankles, or feet.
  • Sudden weight gain, such as more than 2 to 3 pounds in a day or 5 pounds in a week. (Your doctor may suggest a different range of weight gain.)
  • Feeling dizzy or lightheaded or like you may faint.
  • Feeling so tired or weak that you cannot do your usual activities.
  • Not sleeping well. Shortness of breath wakes you at night. You need extra pillows to prop yourself up to breathe easier.

Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if you have any problems.