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Can Methamphetamine Cause Cardiomyopathy?
Question: I'm 34, I have been diagnosed with idiopathic cardiomyopathy in April. after having my first son, ef was 40 in 2007. Never went back to cardiologist to see the cause. Now 2015, after c section two months, I found it difficult to breath. Did a echo, angiography and ef rate is 25. And no blockage in the artery. The doctor recommendation was for icd. But being I have started the medication in April, would getting icd too soon without chance of improvement.? I had history of daily meth use in the past but stopped 2 months before my pregnancy. Cardiologist is unaware of this history, could they have misdiagnosed due to missing information?
Brief Answer:
You can delay ICD implantation,but there is a risk of dangerous arrhytmias
Detailed Answer:
Dear Mrs,
If your EF was reduced already after childbirth, there can be 2 versions:
1. you have had idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy before pregnancy, which got worse after it, as it was leave untreated
2. you have periparum cardiomyopathy, which you developed after childbirth.
Usually meth doesn't cause cardiomyopathy, but it can worsen underlying disease. Anyway now it not as important, as you should receive standard heart failure treatment.
ICD is recommended to patients with ejection fraction lower 35% to prevent life-threatening arrhythmias.
You czan ask your doctor to delay the ICD implantation, and wait if your treatment will be effective in 6 months. But you should know, that you will live with small risk of having life-threatening arrhythmias.
Hope I could help you
Wishing you good health
In case of further questions don't hesitate to ask
Regards,
You can delay ICD implantation,but there is a risk of dangerous arrhytmias
Detailed Answer:
Dear Mrs,
If your EF was reduced already after childbirth, there can be 2 versions:
1. you have had idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy before pregnancy, which got worse after it, as it was leave untreated
2. you have periparum cardiomyopathy, which you developed after childbirth.
Usually meth doesn't cause cardiomyopathy, but it can worsen underlying disease. Anyway now it not as important, as you should receive standard heart failure treatment.
ICD is recommended to patients with ejection fraction lower 35% to prevent life-threatening arrhythmias.
You czan ask your doctor to delay the ICD implantation, and wait if your treatment will be effective in 6 months. But you should know, that you will live with small risk of having life-threatening arrhythmias.
Hope I could help you
Wishing you good health
In case of further questions don't hesitate to ask
Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Now With either condition, the results are the same? Will the ef get better with all the medications they give me. It's just that in afraid the icd is prematurely offered with such a short period of time. And I'm afraid to get the implant if the ef will get better. And also, I am pregnant again and is having a hard time trying to get an abortion because of my health issue. It has been delayed and rerouted to a different facility. Is there any way I could just go without mentioning the heart condition?
Brief Answer:
Welcome back
Detailed Answer:
Dear Mrs,
In case any of cardiomyopathy you will receive the same heart failure treatment.
The medications, your doctor has prescribed you will help to control heart failure, improve your quality of life, and usually they also improve EF. But it is very individual, in some patients there is a great improvement in EF, but the others it is only slight improvement. Whether to delay ICD implantation, you should discuss with your doctor and decide yourself, as you will continue with some risk.
About pregnancy, it is quite risky to continue it, as during pregnancy heart must work twice as hard, and if there is a low ejection fraction and heart failure, they usually deteriorate.
Regards,
Welcome back
Detailed Answer:
Dear Mrs,
In case any of cardiomyopathy you will receive the same heart failure treatment.
The medications, your doctor has prescribed you will help to control heart failure, improve your quality of life, and usually they also improve EF. But it is very individual, in some patients there is a great improvement in EF, but the others it is only slight improvement. Whether to delay ICD implantation, you should discuss with your doctor and decide yourself, as you will continue with some risk.
About pregnancy, it is quite risky to continue it, as during pregnancy heart must work twice as hard, and if there is a low ejection fraction and heart failure, they usually deteriorate.
Regards,
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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