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Alcoholic cardiomyopathy

Definition:
Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is a disorder in which excessive, habitual use of alcohol weakens the heart muscle. The heart cannot pump blood efficiently, and this in turn affects the lungs, liver, brain, and other body systems.

Alternative Names:
Cardiomyopathy - alcoholic

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Drinking alcohol in excessive quantities has a directly toxic effect on heart muscle cells. Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is a form of dilated cardiomyopathy caused by habitual alcohol abuse.

Alcoholic cardiomyopathy causes poor heart function because the heart muscle becomes too weak to pump efficiently. The condition leads to heart failure. Lack of blood flow affects all parts of the body, resulting in damage to multiple tissues and organ systems.

The disorder is most commonly seen in males ages 35 to 55 years old, but it may may develop in anyone who consumes too much alcohol over a long period of time. Alcoholic cardiomyopathy may be indistinguishable from idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy if the history of drinking is not known.



Review Date: 2/10/2003
Reviewed By: Thippeswamy H. Murthy, M.D., Division of Cardiology, Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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