Excessive EtOH consumption is one of the main causes of non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (CMP), representing around one-third of cases 30. Diastolic dysfunction is the earliest sign of ACM and is usually seen in approximately 30% of patients with a history of chronic alcohol abuse with no evidence of systolic dysfunction nor left ventricle hypertrophy. When it can’t pump out enough blood, the heart starts to expand to hold the extra blood.

Risk Factors of Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy

It has been said that ethanol is the “perfect drug” because of its pleasant effects but damaging long-term effect 1,6. It is distributed worldwide, with easy social access, and is pleasant when consumed, with positive sensations of welfare, but its negative effects, which include depressive and damaging noxious health effects, are reserved for later. This dual effect creates an drug addiction additional difficulty to achieve an effective control. Ethanol is one of the most addictive drugs for humans, with high physical and psychological addiction potential 7. Efforts to control alcohol addiction have just 50%–60% positive results in specific cessation programs 8,9. The effect measure for each outcome was conducted using the mean differences effect measure, where the outcomes were assessed in identical units across the various literature reviews used in the study.

Treatment

The authors examined the prevalence of cardiomegaly by means of chest x-rays and related it to alcohol consumption among a consecutive series of Japanese males of working age. They found that 2 of the 6 individuals (33%) whose alcohol consumption exceeded 125 mL/d had cardiomegaly. In contrast, an enlarged heart was found in only 1 of 25 subjects with moderate consumption (4%), in 6 of 105 very mild consumers (5.7%), and in 4.5% of non-drinking individuals. You can experience heart failure if alcohol-induced cardiomyopathy is left untreated or worsens.

5. Sarcomere Damage and Dysfunction in ACM

Animal studies have suggested a benefit from vitamins B-1 and B-12, speculated to be due to protective effects against apoptosis and protein damage. Addiction Resource is an educational platform for sharing and disseminating information about addiction and substance abuse recovery centers. Addiction Resource is not a healthcare provider, nor does it claim to offer sound medical advice to anyone. Addiction Resource does not favor or support any specific recovery center, nor do we claim to ensure the quality, validity, or effectiveness of any particular treatment center. No one should assume the information provided on Addiction Resource as authoritative and should always defer to the advice and care provided by a medical doctor.

AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL REQUIRED TO PRODUCE ACM

Alcohol affects the heart by increasing heart rate and blood pressure, which can strain the cardiovascular system. Chronic heavy drinking can lead to long-term issues such as arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), cardiomyopathy (weakened heart muscle), and an increased risk of hypertension and heart disease. Therefore, complete abstinence from ethanol is the most useful measure to control the natural course of ACM 51,56,135. In fact, patients with ACM who abstain from alcohol have a better long-term prognosis than subjects with idiopathic dilated CMP 54. Out of end-stage cases, the majority of subjects affected by ACM who achieve complete ethanol abstinence functionally improve 33,82,135. The percentage of effective abstinence achievement on these patients submitted to specific programs ranges from 50% to 60% 8,9.

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To make a diagnosis, your doctor will what is alcoholic cardiomyopathy perform a physical examination and ask you about your medical history. “Fatigue is the cardiomyopathy sign that’s usually dismissed as something else, like being out of shape or burned out from work stress,” says Grewal. “That’s why it’s important to get an annual physical, to detect any heart issues as early as possible, and get imaging tests if needed.” Cardiomyopathy does need to be taken very seriously, of course, no matter what type you have, and monitoring is key for preventing more heart muscle damage, says Segal.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expanded that definition to include alcohol use that is more than seven drinks per week for women and 14 per week for men. Finally, it should be noted that McKenna and co-workers, in one of the most frequently cited papers in the ACM field, reported an incidence of 40% in 100 individuals suffering from idiopathic DCM, but in this case the consumption threshold used was only g/d8. At present ACM is considered a specific disease both by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and by the American Heart Association (AHA)18,19. In the ESC consensus document on the classification of cardiomyopathies, ACM is classified among the acquired forms of DCM19. Patients usually experience relief from swelling and shortness of breath within days of starting diuretics, though ongoing monitoring is needed to prevent dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. Electrolyte abnormalities, including hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, and hypophosphatemia, should be corrected promptly because of the risk of arrhythmia and sudden death.

Acute can be defined as large volume acute consumption of alcohol promotes myocardial inflammation leading to increased troponin concentration in serum, tachyarrhythmias including atrial fibrillation and rarely ventricular fibrillation. Incidence of alcoholic cardiomyopathy ranges from 1-2% of all heavy alcohol users. It is estimated, approximately 21-36% of https://ecosoberhouse.com/ all non-ischemic cardiomyopathies are attributed to alcohol.

NATURAL HISTORY OF ALCOHOLIC CARDIOMYOPATHY

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heavy drinking is defined as more than 8 drinks per week for women and more than 15 drinks per week for men. Binge drinking, which involves consuming large amounts of alcohol in a short period, can also contribute to heart damage. The cardiovascular system is, after the liver and gastrointestinal system, the second most affected system by global ethanol toxicity 1,33,34. Specific caution should be recommended regarding children or adolescents 4 and women 46, who are more susceptible to the damaging effects of ethanol at the same doses of consumption as men. Similarly, patients suffering from other ethanol-related diseases such as liver cirrhosis or brain atrophy should completely suppress their ethanol consumption 47,48. Therefore, the only safe ethanol dose for the cardiovascular system is zero 41,45,49,50,51.

• Symptoms include gradual onset worsening shortness of breath, orthopnea/paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea.
• Early diagnosis and complete cessation of alcohol can sometimes reverse heart damage.
• Meanwhile, we excluded duplicates, case reports, letters, editorials, and reviews not specifically addressing ACM.
• The aim of this narrative review is to describe clinical characteristics of alcoholic cardiomyopathy, highlighting the areas of uncertainty.
• Results from serum chemistry evaluations have not been shown to be useful for distinguishing patients with alcoholic cardiomyopathy (AC) from those with other forms of dilated cardiomyopathy (DC).

Patients can expect relief from chest pain within minutes of taking nitrates, with long-term use helping improve heart function and reduce angina attacks. Patients may notice improved heart function and reduced swelling within a few weeks, though regular blood tests are required to monitor potassium levels and kidney function. Patients may notice gradual improvements in heart function and symptoms like shortness of breath and fatigue, though benefits may take several weeks to appear.