Common Early Symptoms of Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy often presents with non-specific symptoms in its early stages. However, individuals may experience a decrease in exercise tolerance during intense physical activity, excessive fatigue, or emotional stress. Common symptoms include chest tightness, palpitations, chest pain, shortness of breath, and irregular heartbeat. These symptoms typically subside quickly with rest or after calming emotional states. Since different types of cardiomyopathy present with varying clinical features, the specific manifestations can differ significantly. Below are some examples based on the type of cardiomyopathy:

Viral Myocarditis

Early signs of viral myocarditis may resemble those of a respiratory viral infection. Patients may experience symptoms such as coughing, phlegm production, runny nose, and inflamed tonsils. These early indicators can often be mistaken for common colds or flu, making early diagnosis challenging without further investigation.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

In the case of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, symptoms may be subtle or even absent in the early stages. Occasionally, patients may experience mild heart failure symptoms, such as exertional dyspnea (shortness of breath during physical activity). This condition may also cause chest pain due to myocardial ischemia, which can occur when the thickened heart muscle places extra strain on the coronary arteries during contraction and relaxation of the heart.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Dilated cardiomyopathy shares similarities with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in terms of symptom presentation. During a physical examination, a physician may detect abnormal heart murmurs caused by valve regurgitation due to the dilation of the heart chambers. These murmurs are a result of improper valve closure, which can lead to blood flowing backward within the heart.