How Can Cardiomyopathy Be Prevented?
People can make lifestyle choices to reduce the risk
of conditions that may lead to cardiomyopathy, such as
coronary
artery disease,
high
blood pressure, and
heart
attack. Examples of lifestyle choices include:
- Quitting smoking
- Eating a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy
weight
- Getting regular physical exercise
- Avoiding the use of alcohol and illegal
drugs
People also can control high blood pressure,
high
blood cholesterol, and diabetes by:
- Getting regular checkups with their doctors
- Following their doctors' advice about lifestyle
changes
- Taking medicines as directed
Some types of cardiomyopathy, such as inherited
forms, can't be prevented. Restrictive cardiomyopathy can't always be prevented
because it occurs as the result of another disease. Sometimes, underlying
diseases can be prevented or treated early enough to stop restrictive
cardiomyopathy from developing.
It may be possible to prevent sudden cardiac death
if doctors can identify a person at high risk of this event and treat him or
her with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator.
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