Shanti Poly Clinic

अर्थराइटिस यानी गठिया जोड़ों की बीमारी है. अर्थराइटिस की शिकायत होने पर चलने में तकलीफ, जोड़ों में दर्द की शिकायत होती है. लेकिन कुछ खाद्य प‍दार्थ ऐसे है जिनसे अर्थराइटिस का दर्द कम और कुछ से दर्द बढ़ सकता है. आइए ऐसे ही कुछ खाद्य प‍दार्थों के बारे में जानें.
अर्थराइटिस में क्‍या खायें
अर्थराइटिस यानी गठिया जोड़ों की बीमारी है. अर्थराइटिस की शिकायत होने पर चलने में तकलीफ, जोड़ों में दर्द की शिकायत होती है. हालांकि यह बीमारी उम्रदराज लोगों को होती है, लेकिन बदली हुई लाइफस्‍टाइल के कारण इसकी चपेट में वर्तमान में युवा भी आ रहे हैं. अर्थराइटिस का दर्द इतना तीव्र होता है कि व्यक्ति को चलने–फिरने और यहां तक कि घुटनों को मोड़ने में भी बहुत परेशानी होती है. लेकिन आहार में कुछ खाद्य पदार्थों को शामिल कर आप इस समस्‍या से बच सकते हैं.
लहसुन का सेवन
लहसुन रक्त शुद्ध करने में सहायक है. अर्थराइटिस के कारण रक्त में यूरिक एसिड बहुत अधिक मात्रा में बढ़ जाता है. लहसुन के रस के प्रभाव से यूरिक एसिड गलकर तरल रूप में मूत्रमार्ग से बाहर निकल जाता है.
अजमोद
अजमोद गठिया से ग्रस्त मरीजों के लिए विशेष रूप से उपयोगी होता है. गठिया मरीज अजमोद के रस का इस्तेमाल करके अपनी परेशानी कम कर सकते हैं. क्योंकि अजमोद एक मूत्रवर्धक के रूप में किडनी की सफाई के लिए जाना जाता है. किडनी में मौजूद अपशिष्ट पदार्थों को बाहर निष्कासित करके यह आपको स्वस्थ रखता है.
अदरक
अदरक रक्त प्रवाह और परिसंचरण में सुधार करता है. ठंड के मौसम के दौरान खराब जोड़ों के दर्द का अनुभव करने वाले अधिक संवेदनशील लोगों के लिए विशेष रूप से अच्छा होता है. जोड़ों के दर्द से परेशान लोगों को हर रोज दो सौ ग्राम अदरक दो बार लेने से दर्द में बहुत राहत मिलती है.
कैमोमाइल टी
अर्थराइटिस के लिए कैमोमाइल टी सबसे ज्‍यादा फायदेमंद मानी जाती है. इसमें मौजूद एंटी इंफेल्‍मेटेरी तत्‍व अर्थराइटिस के इलाज में फायदेमंद है. इसे आप चाय की तरह या खाने के तौर पर ले सकते हैं. यह जोड़ो में यूरिक एसिड बनने से रोकता है.
सेब साइडर सिरका
सेब साइडर सिरका आपके पाचन में सुधार करता है, विशेष रूप से प्रोटीन युक्त खाद्य पदार्थों को बेहतर तरीके से पचाता है. उम्र बढ़ने पर हमारे पेट की क्षमता कम और जोड़ों का दर्द बढ़ जाती है. ऐसे में सेब साइडर सिरका बहुत मददगार होता है. सेब साइडर सिरका आपके शरीर को अधिक क्षारीय बनाने में मददकर जोड़ों के दर्द को कम करता है.
अर्थराइटिस में इन आहार से बचें
अर्थराइटिस होने पर शरीर में यूरिक एसिड की मात्रा अधिक हो जाती है, इसके कारण ही जोड़ों में सूजन होती है. इसकी पीड़ा असहनीय होती है, खासकर ठंड के मौसम में इसका दर्द बर्दाश्‍त से बाहर हो जाता है. कुछ आहार तो ऐसे है जिनको खाने से अर्थराइटिस का दर्द और भी बढ़ सकता है. आइए जानें, किन आहार से बढ़ सकता है अर्थराइटिस का दर्द.
डेयरी प्रोडक्‍ट
अर्थरा‍इटिस में दुग्‍ध उत्‍पादों को खाने से बचना चाहिए. दुग्‍ध उत्‍पादों से बने खाद्य-पदार्थ भी अर्थराइटिस के दर्द को बढ़ा सकते हैं. क्‍योंकि दुग्‍ध उत्‍पाद जैसे, पनीर, बटर आदि में कुछ ऐसे प्रोटीन होते हैं जो जोड़ों के आसपास मौजूद ऊतकों को प्रभावित करते हैं, इसकी वजह से जोड़ों का दर्द बढ़ सकता है.
टमाटर न खायें
टमाटर हमारे शरीर के लिए बहुत फायदेमंद है, क्‍योंकि इसमें विटामिन और मिनरल भरपूर मात्रा में मौजूद होता है, लेकिन यह अर्थराइटिस के दर्द को बढ़ाता भी है. टमाटर में कुछ ऐसे रासायनिक घटक पाये जाते हैं जो गठिया के दर्द को बढ़ाकर जोड़ों में सूजन पैदा कर सकते हैं. इसलिए टमाटर खाने से परहेज करें.
खट्टे फल
वैसे तो खट्टे फल अत्‍यंत स्‍वस्‍थ होते है, और विटामिन सी और अन्‍य पोषक तत्‍वों को प्राप्‍त करने का एक शानदार तरीका है. लेकिन कुछ लोगों में या जोड़ों के दर्द में वृद्धि कर सकते हैं. अगर आप स्‍वस्‍थ आहार का अनुसरण करके भी जोड़ों में दर्द से पीड़‍ित है तो एक महीने के लिए अपने आहार से खट्टे फलों को हटा कर देखें कि क्‍या होता है.
मछली न खायें
अर्थराइटिस होने पर ओमेगा-3 फैटी एसिड युक्‍त आहार का सेवन नहीं करना चाहिए. मछली का सेवन करने से अर्थराइटिस का दर्द बढ़ सकता है. मछली में अधिक मात्रा में प्यूरिन पाया जाता है. प्यूरिन हमारे शरीर में ज्यादा यूरिक एसिड पैदा करता है. इसलिए सालमन, टूना और एन्कोवी जैसी मछलियों को खाने से बचना चाहिए.
शुगरयुक्‍त आहार
चीनी शरीर के हर हिस्से में सूजन का कारण बनती है, इससे आपकी धमनियों में सूजन बढ़ जाती है. यह अथेरोस्क्लेरोसिस (धमनियों की दीवारों के अंदर जमा फैट) के अधिक खतरे का कारण बनता है, और प्रतिरक्षा कोशिकाओं के इंफ्लेमेटरी केमिकल के स्राव को उत्तेजित करता है. इसलिए अर्थराइटिस के मरीज को चीनी और मीठा खाने से परहेज करना चाहिए.
एल्‍कोहल और सॉफ्ट ड्रिंक
एल्कोहल खासकर बीयर शरीर में यूरिक एसिड के स्‍तर को बढ़ाता है, और शरीर से गैर जरूरी तत्व निकालने में शरीर को रोकता भी है. इसी तरह सॉफ्ट ड्रिंक खासकर मीठे पेय या सोडा में फ्रक्टोज नामक तत्व पाया जाता है, जो यूरिक एसिड के बढ़ने में मदद करता है. 2010 में किए गए एक शोध के अनुसार, जो लोग ज्यादा मात्रा में फ्रक्टोस वाली चीजों का सेवन करते हैं, उनमें अर्थराइटिस होने का खतरा दोगुना अधिक होता है.

श्वसन संबंधी कई बीमारियों में एक अस्थमा भी है. अस्थमा के दौरान श्वसन नाली में सूजन आ जाने के कारण सांस लेने में दिक्कत आने लगती है. अस्थमा के होने के कई कारण होते हैं. लेकिन बीमारी के प्रभाव को आप सही खान-पान अपना कर दूर कर सकते हैं. दरअसल जीवनशैली में आए बदलाव के कारण हमारा खान-पान इतना गड़बड़ हो गया है. इसलिए ये आवश्यक है कि अस्थमा सेबचने या इसकी संभावना को कम करने के लिए हमें अपने आहार शैली में बदलाव करना होगा. यदि आपइन बदलावों को सही तरीके से अपने जीवन में लागू करेंगे तो इसके बहुत सकारात्मक परिणाम आ सकते हैं. आपको बता दें कि कि अस्थमा के मरीजों के पास एलर्जिक खाने की एक लम्बी लिस्ट होती है और इतना ही नहीं खाने में ऐसी भी बहुत सी चीजें हो सकती है जो उनके स्वास्थ्य के लिए बहुत ही लाभदायी होती हैं.अस्थमा से बचने के बहुत से उपाय समय समय पर खोजे गये हैं, इनमें से हाल मे खोजा गया एक उपाय है आस्थमा के मरीज़ के डायट पर ध्यान देना. आइए हम आपको बताते हैं कि अस्‍थमा के मरीजों के लिए क्‍या डाइट प्‍लान होना चाहिए.
अस्थमा में क्या खाएं?
अगर आप अस्थमा की समस्या से पीडित हैं, तो आपको खान-पान में सावधानी बरतनी चाहिए. आपको अपने आहार में अधिक से अधिक एंटी ऑक्सीडेंट को शामिल करना चाहिए. आहार में जितनी अधिक विटामिन सी की मात्रा होगी, आपके लिए उतना ही बेहतर होगा.खट्टे फल, जूस, ब्रोकली, स्कवॉश और अंकुरित खाद्य पदार्थो को अपने भोजन में जरूर शामिल करें, क्योंकि इनमें विटामिन सी प्रचुर मात्रा में पाया जाता है. विटामिन सी जलन व सूजन को कम करता है और श्वसन संबंधी समस्याओं से लड़ने में मदद करता है.पालक जैसी हरी पत्तेदार सब्जियां, लाल व पीली मिर्च, गाजर व खुबानी आदि को अपने भोजन में जरूर शामिल करें. यह अस्थमा रोग में राहत प्रदान करती हैं. हरी पत्तेदार सब्जियों में बीटा-कैरोटीन नामक तत्व होता है, जो कि अस्थमा मरीजों के लिए बहुत मददगार होता है.
अस्थमा में क्या न खाएं?
आमतौर पर एलर्जी के शिकार जल्दी बनते हैं. इसलिए इन्हें उन चीजों से दूर रहने की सलाह दी जाती है, जिनसे एलर्जी हो सकती हैं, जैसे कि अंडा, मछली या तीखी महक वाली चीजें. हालांकि हर किसी की एलर्जी हो, यह जरूरी नहीं है. इसलिए यह जानना जरूरी हो जाता है कि अस्थमा के मरीजों के स्वास्थ्य के ऐसे कौन से आहार उपयोगी है जिससे उनका स्वास्थ्य सकारात्मक रूप से प्रभावित हो सके.  अस्थमा के मरीज को खट्टा और सामान्य ठंडा नहीं खाना चाहिए, यह मिथ है. जिन्हें इनमें एलर्जी होती है, उन्हें ही इससे नुकसान होता है. लेकिन वो लोग जो थियोफाइलिन ले रहे है उन्हें कैफीन युक्त चाय, काफी या कोल्ड ड्रिंक नहीं लेना चाहिए क्योंकि थियोफाइलिन और कैफीन मिलकर टाक्सिक हो सकते हैं. अगर आपके अटैक का कारण चिन्ता है तो आप ज़्यादा मात्रा में कैफीन ले सकते हैं. इस तरह के खाद्य पदार्थ का इस्तेमाल कर आप न केवल आस्थमा से बच सकते हैं बल्कि स्वास्थ्य की दृष्टि से भी यह आहार बहुत ही पोषक हैं.

As complex as it may sound, Keratosis Pilaris is a harmless, non-contagious type of skin disorder, which primarily affects people with dry skin. This disease has the potential to convert a person’s once smooth skin into skin as rough as sandpaper.

Symptoms

A number of light-coloured small bumps start appearing on the skin and in most cases, they tend to appear on the upper arms, thighs and buttocks of the affected person. In certain cases, there may be some swelling or redness, which comes along with the bumps. The skin loses its original glow and colour.

Causes

As mentioned above, people with dry skin suffer from Keratosis Pilaris. Also anyone with extra sensitive skin who is prone to be allergic to various substances tend to fall prey to this disease. Often Keratosis Pilaris is inherited from other family members as well. Persons suffering from asthma and eczema have higher chances of getting affected by Keratosis Pilaris.

But what leads to such a condition? A protein in our body called ‘keratin’, which protects our skin from various infections, is the main cause behind Keratosis Pilaris. Although there is no particular reason for excess building up of keratin in our body, too much of it under the skin leads to blockages of hair follicles and growth of rashes.

Treatment

For people who are scared of medical tests, it may be a relief to know that Keratosis Pilaris does not need any sort of testing. Treatment of Keratosis Pilaris is a time taking process and immediate results may not be seen after applying a particular lotion or cream. However, sometimes it gets cured on its own without any medication.

To start off, the amount of time which is spent in water should be limited. In addition to this, there are other steps which may be taken. For example, while taking a shower, hot water should be substituted by warm water. Also, it is vital to ensure that the skin is adequately moist. Two ways of going about doing this are using moisturizers and making use of a humidifier. Make sure you use mild soaps for regular hygiene and for your shower.

Who gets Keratosis Pilaris?

Anyone can get Keratosis Pilaris. It is estimated to affect between 50-80% of all adolescents and approximately 40% of adults. Females may be more frequently affected than males. Age of onset is often within the first 10 years of life and can particularly get worse during puberty. Keratosis Pilaris may however begin at any age. A large percentage of patients have other people in their family with the same condition. It has commonly been seen in twins. Keratosis Pilaris is also seen in atopic dermatitis patients and patients with very dry skin.

One big relief when it comes to having Keratosis Pilaris is the fact that there is little risk at all if a person has it as it is not threatening. That being said, the sooner it is under control, the better! If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a dermatologist and ask a free question.

Vitamins are extremely important for proper functioning of various body systems. Vitamin D3 plays a very crucial role in the proper functioning of bones and joints.  Deficiency of this vitamin is quite common, but can be identified and managed easily.  Read on to know more about its functions, causes of deficiency, symptoms, and management.

Function: Vitamin D3 is essential for the absorption of calcium from the food that is consumed. A decrease in the amount of vitamin D3 leads to poor calcium absorption, resulting in thin, soft, brittle bones.

Causes: Some of the possible causes of vitamin D3 deficiency (and ways to manage them) are listed below:

1. Reduced intake: People with a strict vegan diet may be consuming reduced amounts of this important chemical.  Most natural food sources are animal based including fish, fish oils, fortified milk, egg yolks and beef liver.

2. Limited sun exposure: People who spend a lot of time indoors are likely to have this deficiency.  People who wear sunscreen constantly, wear long robes for religious reasons, live in the polar areas, upper/lower hemispheres are all prone to vitamin D3 deficiency.

3. Darker complexion: The body’s ability to make vitamin D3 when exposed to the sun is reduced if there is more melanin in the skin.

4. Obesity:  Vitamin D is extracted from the blood by fat cells and people with BMI of more than 30 have a vitamin deficiency.

Symptoms:  While some people may go completely asymptomatic with this condition, others could develop significant symptoms.

1. Bone pain and aches: When there is less calcium getting incorporated into the bones, pains and aches leading to fatigue are common.

2. Depression: The areas of the brain that regulate mood contain vitamin D receptors, and low levels of this vitamin can lead to depression.  They are also at higher risk of developing cognitive conditions like schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s, and dementia.

3. Gut problems: Vitamin D is fat soluble and in people with stomach conditions like Crohn’s or IBD, the gut functioning is altered and so vitamin D absorption is reduced.

4. Increased risk of heart disease:  Both the risk of developing heart disease and the severity of the disease went up considerably when there is vitamin D deficiency. This is given their role in controlling inflammation and improving immune function.

5. Lesser chances of surviving cancer:  In patients with colorectal cancer, lymphoma, and breast cancer, increasing vitamin D levels improved cancer prognosis by 4%.  The chances of developing prostate cancer are also increased in patients with vitamin D3 deficiency.

Management: Providing the required amounts of vitamin D3 through diet and supplements is the best way to manage this.  Check with your doctor to know the optimal levels and plan for replacement accordingly.

Muscular dystrophy (MD) is a group of muscular problems which leads to loss of muscle mass and therefore loss of muscle strength. This is a progressive condition and gradually worsens with time. in some cases, the patients may experience complete muscle breakdown, ultimately affecting patient mobility to a large extent. The condition is usually inherited and caused by genetic mutations. It can affect children and adults alike. There are different types of the condition but the most common ones are:

• Myotonic
• Duchenne’s
• Becker
• Congenital
• Distal

In addition to the patient, there is a lot of stress on the caregiver and so coping with MD is hard not just on the patient, but also on the caregivers. Listed below are some medical and nonmedical measures to deal with this condition.

1. Medications: These could include corticosteroids which can delay the progression of MD. The doctor might also prescribe heart medications if the heart muscles are affected.
2. Therapy: Physical and occupational therapy play a major role in the management of MD. Therapies could include a range of motion exercises to improve the flexibility of the particular joint and improve mobility. With time, some joints could become rigid and the range of movement may also become limited.
3. Strength training: Another major problem with MD is the gradual loss of strength in the muscles. Training the muscles to retain and if possible improve strength is another objective of treatment. To this end, the doctor might prescribe exercises depending on overall health of the patient.
4. Breathing aids: If the lungs are affected, then the person would need breathing aids to improve oxygen supply to the lungs and also other body parts. Sleep apnea is a common condition seen in people with MD, which makes breathing at night difficult.
5. Braces: If the muscles are becoming rigid, then braces can be used to keep them in place. This helps in slowing the progression of muscle rigidity and also provides support for weakened muscles.
6. Vaccination: Vaccination for pneumonia and flu should be up to date, as the chances of infection are higher
7. Diet: Healthy diet is recommended, as eating too much junk and fried foods can lead to obesity, etc.

Especially if a child is affected, it is very important to not to keep them away from their regularly affects. Empathizing with them and working with them is very important. Encourage what they are able to do on their own, and gradually assist them to do more. Keep the school informed of issues so that they can provide necessary attention care and attention whenever required. For adults, being part of social forums and/or groups helps, as there would be others who are going through the same problem as you, so you can get tips and suggestions for coping.

Psychiatry is not just a form of medicine to identify and treat the psychiatric illness, but it also helps in improving attention, cognition, memory and concentration. Psychiatry has its role in different fields and working in the field of memory improvement is quite interesting. Memory is basically the process through which a person stores information for days, months and years.

Human brain is a dynamic entity and has wonderful capacity to store information and recall it as and when required. However, our memory is affected by a number of reasons, such as aging, accidents, negligence and certain diseases, which involves our brain and nervous system. Further, the memory of an event will improve, based on the frequency at which it has been recalled.

Apart from the frequency of recall, psychiatry can also help a person to improve the capacity of brain and sharpen their memory to store incidents or events for a prolonged period of time.

How psychologist can improve your memory:

1. Improving your concentration while doing any work will naturally improve your memory. Doing things with concentration will help us in storing information for a longer period of time.
2. Relieving your mind from stress or anxiety is also a great way to improve your memory as stress has the ability to hamper your memory.
3. Eating a balanced and nutritious diet is essential for a better memory. For increasing the memory power, psychiatrists insist on a diet which is anti inflammatory, rich in protein and Omega-3 fatty acids.
4. A simple 20 minute exercise routine will not just help you to stay fit physically, but mentally as well.
5. It also important to sleep properly, as sleep helps your mind and body to prepare for the next day. It is also advised to have a short nap in the afternoon to improve your brain functioning during the day time.
6. Smoking and frequent consumption of caffeine also hampers your memory, thus, it is advised that one should quit smoking and reduce the consumption of caffeine.

Fibre is crucial for proper digestion and 85 % immunity of the human body is due to digestion alone. Scientists have recently concluded after years of study that the human brain and gut are indeed connected. This leads us to the question whether we are looking after our guts to stay healthy and fit for years to come?

Consider this modern diets have left millions worldwide with deficiency of fibre. And, this is really alarming because high - fibre foods help to guard against cancer, heart disease, kidney stones, PMS, obesity and diabetes.

Fibre comes in two varieties- soluble and insoluble. Soluble fibre turns to gel in the stomach, slowing digestion, which helps lower cholesterol and blood sugar. Insoluble fibre remains untouched all the way to the large intestine aiding in proper evacuation of the GI tract. Since fibre is never absorbed into the body, you have to eat sufficient quantities of it every day. Experts suggest that you need 25-38 gm of fibre each day in your diet. But how do you get this amount?

Here is a list of 10 high- fibre foods for jacking-up fibre content

1. Legumes like split peas or ‘dals’: Fibre content - 16.3 gm per cup. Eaten as a staple food in India, split peas are full of proteins and fibre. They can be had in soup, stew and dal form.
2. Lentils like quinoa: Fibre content -  15.6 gm per cup. They are also good source of protein, iron, folate, manganese and phosphorous.
3. Artichokes: Fibre - 10.3 gm per medium vegetable. Reservoir of vitamins A, C, E, B, K, potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorous, Artichokes are one of the top most high antioxidant food.
4. Peas: Fibre - 8.8 gm per cup. They are also filled with protein, Omega-3s, vitamins and folates and contain insoluble fibres
5. Broccoli: Fibre - 5.1 gm per cup. A power packed cruciferous vegetable, full of anti-oxidants.
6. Brussels sprouts: Fibre - 4.1 gm per cup. Contains  balance of soluble and insoluble fibre apart from nutrients like vitamins C, K, B1, B2, B6, folate and manganese.
7. Oatmeal: Fibre 4 gm per cup. Great for breakfast with milk!
8. Flax seeds: Fibre - 3 gm per tablespoon: Tonnes of nutrients are packed in the humble flax seeds. They contain protein, thiamine, manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, Omega-3 fatty acids and fibre. They reduce cholesterol and help ease symptoms of menopause.
9. Avocados: Fibre 6.7 gm per half fruit raw. Pack with the goodness of vitamin C, E, B6, folate, vitamin K and potassium. Contain healthy fats that help to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease.
10. Pears: Fibre - 5.5 gm per medium fruit. This fruit contains Omega-6 fatty acids which helps keep the cells in brain and nerves healthy.

Addiction can tear families apart, especially if it is someone whom you love with your whole heart. Further, the mere presence of alcohol addiction in a marriage can make things even worse. There are so many experiences that are a part of married life and spending your life besides an alcoholic can be traumatic.

However, all it needs is to be aware of coping mechanisms to deal with such a situation and helping your partner get rid of their addiction.

1. Acknowledge the fact that alcoholism is a disease: You must understand that it becomes extremely difficult for a person to control his or her drinking habit after getting addicted to the same. It is basically like a person suffering from a disease that he/she doesn't even understand. Therefore, it is necessary for you to help him/her making a choice to recover from this disease and take a stand against alcoholism. And, to get over the situation, support from you is crucial.
2. Maintain a sense of peace: It is not surprising that the drinking habit of your partner may upset you. Even then, it is imperative for you to be patient and handle the situation calmly. You can speak to someone close to you or consult a therapist regarding the situation, this can help you manage the frustration rather than venting it out on your partner.
3. Treat yourself better: There is nothing that you can do to change the lifestyle of your spouse when it involves drinking. It is a kind of attitude that actually needs to come from within him or her. But, what you can actually do is at least take care of yourself, which will help you in the longer run. Build and develop relationships with other people in your family, friends and colleagues. Focus on the things that you enjoy doing such as play some sports, go out for a movie, have lunch with friends, or engage in a hobby.
4. Opting for professional help: Rehabilitation is necessary when your spouse is addicted to alcohol for a long time. It is important that you discuss the same with your partner when they are sober. If it is difficult for you to have this discussion, you can ask for help from people that your partner may listen to. Taking counselling session with them can give them support and courage they need to get deal with this phase of their life.

Living with an alcoholic partner is a path filled with full of difficulties. However, adhering to the points mentioned above can help you deal with the situation in a positive manner. Remember, your spouse needs you from time to time, and supporting them can help you get a life that you signed up for.

Our heart is basically a muscle. So when this muscle weakens the heart is unable to do its function i.e., to pump blood throughout our body and keep us alive.

The heart muscle gets progressively weak due to a disease called cardiomyopathy.

There are different types of cardiomyopathy caused by different causes. Untreated cardiomyopathy can lead to heart failure or early death. Treatment can’t cure the condition but can give you extra healthy years of life and prevent serious complications.

Cardiomyopathy has 4 main types, they are:

1. Dilated Cardiomyopathy: This is the most common form and its principal cause is that your heart muscle becomes too weak to pump blood. The heart muscles stretch and become thinner in this case leading to the four chambers of the heart to expand causing a pathology called an enlarged heart.

2. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: This happens due to genetics. It occurs when the walls of your heart thicken and prevent the flow of blood through this natural pump.

3. Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia: This is a rare form of cardiomyopathy. It causes sudden deaths of athletes and is caused when fat and fibrous tissues replace muscle in the right ventricle of the heart.

4. Restrictive Cardiomyopathy: This is the least common form of the disease. The cause is the stiffening of the ventricles, the part of the blood which receives blood. When these stiffen, the heart doesn’t get enough blood to oxygenate. Scarring of the heart due to heart disease and a heart transplant operation can be a cause of this stiffening.

5. Ischemic Cardiomyopathy: Ischemic cardiomyopathy is caused due to coronary artery disease which causes blood vessels supplying blood to the heart to become narrow. The heart doesn’t get enough oxygen and a person can die due to a heart attack.

6. Other types of cardiomyopathy are grouped into this category and can include:

   • Left ventricular noncompaction happens when the left ventricle has trabeculations, projections of muscle inside the ventricle.

   • Peripartum cardiomyopathy, another form of the disease can occur during or after pregnancy. This is a form of dilated cardiomyopathy and can be fatal. There’s no documented cause.

   • Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is caused due to alcoholism causing an enlargement of the heart.

   • Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, or broken heart syndrome, happens when extreme stress leads to heart muscle failure. Though rare, this condition is more common in post-menopausal women.

Treatment

Doctors will decide the treatment after finding out the extent of damage due to cardiomyopathy.

Few people will not require treatment till symptoms like chest pain, dizziness, shortness of breath and edema appear.

Others whose life is affected due to symptoms are treated with lifestyle changes and medicines. The bad news is that cardiomyopathy can’t be cured but can only be managed and controlled by doing the following:

1. Heart-healthy lifestyle changes are key. You will be advised to maintain a healthy weight, eat a modified diet, get enough sleep, manage stress, and quit smoking.

2. Exercise is also crucial to keep the heart healthy and maintain a healthy weight through regular bouts of low-intensity exercise.

3. Medications for high blood pressure will be prescribed to prevent water retention, keep the heart beating normally, prevent blood clots and reduce inflammation.

4. Pacemakers and defibrillators can be implanted.

5. Surgery like heart transplant can be done as a last resort.