Patients with myotonic dystrophy and Emery Dreifuss dystrophy are more prone to develop this sort of problem and should be under regular hospital review. Cardiomyopathies are more likely to affect people with Duchenne or Becker md. Those with Duchenne md are, to a certain extent, protected by their lack of mobility and the cardiomyopathy will often be mild and without symptoms so treatment is rarely required. On the other hand, patients with Becker md may develop a moderate to severe cardiomyopathy, even when they are still physically active and mobile. The diagnosis is made by a simple ultrasound examination of the heart called an echocardiogram which may be repeated to monitor the effects of treatment and progress of the disease.
Drug treatment is given to improve the heart's pumping action.
In patients with cardiomyopathy from other causes there is now good evidence to show that early treatment improves the long-term outcome. The same may be true for these types of neuromuscular conditions although this has not yet been proven. If you are a patient with any of these conditions, it is important that you are receiving regular hospital follow-up, even if you feel well. Smoking is known to cause cardiovascular disease which is likely to worsen the effects of the dystrophy. Keep your weight down and eat a healthy diet, low in fat and cholesterol.