Alcohol consumption can cause further weakening of the heart muscle. When physical activity becomes severely limited because of weakness or shortness of breath, the whole body becomes deconditioned and is further limited. The first symptom is often a decreased ability to exercise due to early fatigue or shortness of breath. Many people with cardiomyopathy simply limit their activity without realizing the reason. When the condition becomes more severe, sufferers begin to build up extra fluid in their body, which can cause shortness of breath with rest or minimal exertion.
Many patients notice difficulty breathing, particularly when lying down at night.
Some patients, but not all, may develop swelling of their feet or abdomen and abdominal discomfort. Occasionally, cardiomyopathy sufferers first get medical help because of an abnormal heart rhythm or a blood clot arising from the large heart. A multidisciplinary team specializing in cardiomyopathy may be able to identify some causes of heart muscle weakness which can be directly treated. Diuretics reduce excess fluid Anti-arrhythmic drugs stabilize the heart rhythm. Systematic balancing of the medications can often lead to dramatic improvement in the way patients feel with the disease.