Living with Cardiomyopathy

Your doctor will outline a treatment plan to help you live better with cardiomyopathy and stop it from getting worse. Be sure to follow your doctor's instructions. You can also make some lifestyle changes that will help your heart.

Follow Your Treatment Plan

Be sure to visit your doctor regularly. Mention any problems you are having with your treatment plan. Be honest if you are not doing something your doctor has suggested. He or she may be able to make some changes to help your plan work better for you.

Balance Activity and Rest

Having cardiomyopathy may mean you get tired more quickly. But this shouldn't keep you from being active. In fact, being active may help you feel better. Talk with your doctor about how much activity is right for you.

Weigh yourself daily and write down your results.

Take Steps to Help Your Heart

• Stop smoking. Smoking damages your heart muscle and blood vessels. It reduces the oxygen in your blood. It makes your heart beat faster and work harder. And it can make a heart attack more likely.

• Lose any excess weight. The more extra weight you have, the harder your heart has to work to pump blood through your body.

• Avoid alcohol. Drinking alcohol may make your cardiomyopathy worse.

Keep Track of Your Weight

Rapid weight gain may mean that you are retaining fluid, which is one of the signs of heart failure. Keeping track of your weight helps you detect this weight gain early and prevent further damage to your heart. To keep track of your weight:

• Weigh yourself at the same time each day, after you urinate. Wear the same thing each time. Write down your weight each day.

• Don't stop weighing yourself. If you forget one day, weigh again the next morning.

• Call your doctor if you gain 2 or more pounds in one day, or if you gain 3-5  pounds in one week.

Call Your Doctor If You:

• Faint or have dizzy spells

• Notice new symptoms from your medication

• Have a new onset of coughing

• Have trouble breathing, especially if it occurs while at rest or lying down

• Get tired faster

• Begin urinating less often

• Find that your feet or ankles swell more than usual

• Have tightness or pain in your chest