What Are the Types of Cardiac Amyloidosis?
Who Is At Risk for Cardiac Amyloidosis?
How Does Cardiac Amyloidosis Affect the Body?
How to Diagnose the Condition?
How to Treat Cardiac Amyloidosis?
How to Prevent Cardiac Amyloidosis?
Contact Doctor Arun for Any Cardiac Symptoms
Cardiac amyloidosis is a rare progressive disease which occurs when there is an abnormal accumulation of amyloid proteins in the heart. This abnormal build up proteins can interfere with the normal functioning of the heart and may lead to heart failure and other serious heart complications.
What Are the Types of Cardiac Amyloidosis?
There are two main types, as follows:
- AL Amyloidosis: Abnormal build-up of antibodies causes this type of AL amyloidosis.
- ATTR Amyloidosis: Abnormal increase in transthyretin proteins causes this condition.
Who Is At Risk for Cardiac Amyloidosis?
The older adults over the age of 60 are more prone to get this diagnosis and this condition is found to be more prevalent in males.
How Common Is This Condition?
The prevalence of this condition is difficult to estimate, but it is believed to be relatively rare. It is often misdiagnosed as other forms of heart disease, which may contribute to its underestimation.
How Does Cardiac Amyloidosis Affect the Body?
Amyloidosis can affect the body in several ways. Understand it this way – the abnormal protein build-up can cause the heart to become stiff and less flexible. This makes it difficult for the heart to fill with blood properly. This can lead to a decrease in the amount of blood pumped out of the heart with each heartbeat. This may result in heart failure. Additionally, amyloid proteins can accumulate in other organs, such as the kidneys and liver. This can cause damage to these organs.
What Are the Common Symptoms?
The symptoms can vary depending on the type and severity of the disease. Some common symptoms may include fatigue, shortness of breath, swelling in the legs and feet, irregular heartbeat, and weight loss.
How to Diagnose the Condition?
Diagnosis often requires a combination of medical imaging, blood tests, and biopsies. Doctors may use techniques such as echocardiograms, cardiac MRI, and PET scans. These are to examine the structure & function of the heart, and to look for signs of amyloid build-up.
How to Treat Cardiac Amyloidosis?
Treatment options depend on the type and severity of the disease, as well as the individual patient’s needs. Medications such as diuretics and ACE inhibitors may be used to manage symptoms of heart failure, while chemotherapy and stem cell transplants may be used to treat the underlying condition causing amyloid buildup. In some cases, heart transplant may be necessary.
How to Prevent Cardiac Amyloidosis?
There is no known way to prevent such a condition. This is because the underlying causes of the disease are not well understood. However, early diagnosis & treatment can help to slow the progression of the disease and improve outcomes for patients.
Contact Doctor Arun for Any Cardiac Symptoms
If you have been experiencing any of the symptoms of Cardiac Amyloidosis, it is time to get the right medical advice in this regard. The best you can do at this time is to connect with Doctor Arun. He is an expert in this domain. You can gain sufficient knowledge about your problem and receive the best treatment further.
