Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Sep 1, 2024.
Restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) is a disease of your heart muscle that causes your ventricles to become stiff or weak. The ventricles are the 2 lower chambers of your heart. They pump blood to your lungs and the rest of your body. When the ventricles are stiff or weak, your heart does not fill with enough blood. This decreases the blood and oxygen supply to the rest of your body.
DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS:
Medicines:
- Diuretics: This medicine helps decrease fluid around your lungs and heart. It also helps decrease extra fluid in your legs and ankles. You will urinate more often when you take diuretics.
- Blood thinners: Blood thinners help prevent blood clots. These include aspirin and warfarin. Take your medicine exactly as directed. Tell your healthcare provider if you forgot to take it or if you took too much. Blood thinners may cause you to bleed or bruise more easily. Use a soft toothbrush and an electric shaver. Wear medical alert jewelry or carry a card that says you take a blood thinner. Tell all healthcare providers, including your dentist, that you take this medicine.
- Heart medicine: This medicine helps strengthen or regulate your heartbeat.
- Antihypertensive medicine helps lower your blood pressure. A controlled blood pressure helps protect your organs, such as your heart, lungs, brain, and kidneys. Take the medicine exactly as directed.
- Take your medicine as directed. Contact your healthcare provider if you think your medicine is not helping or if you have side effects. Tell your provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Keep a list of the medicines, vitamins, and herbs you take. Include the amounts, and when and why you take them. Bring the list or the pill bottles to follow-up visits. Carry your medicine list with you in case of an emergency.
Follow up with your healthcare provider or cardiologist as directed:
Write down your questions so you remember to ask them during your visits.
Self-care:
- Check your weight daily: Weight gain can be a sign of extra fluid in your body. Weigh yourself at the same time every morning. Use the same scale and weigh yourself before you eat and after you urinate. Record your weight and the time you weighed yourself in a diary. Bring your diary to your visits with your healthcare provider or cardiologist.
- Limit your liquids: Ask how much liquid to drink each day and which liquids are best for you. Your risk for fluid buildup and swelling increases if you drink too much liquid.
- Manage your health conditions: Health conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, may make your symptoms worse and increase your risk for other heart problems.
- Exercise: Ask about the best exercise plan for you. Exercise may help decrease your symptoms and improve your heart function.
- Eat a variety of healthy foods: Healthy foods include fruits, vegetables, whole-grain breads, low-fat dairy products, beans, lean meats, and fish. Limit the amount of sodium (salt) you eat. Too much sodium can cause swelling and make your symptoms worse. Ask how much sodium you can have each day. Pay careful attention to sodium content on food labels.
- Do not drink alcohol, smoke, or use drugs: If you smoke, it is never too late to quit. Do not take any illegal street drugs. Alcohol, smoking, or illegal drugs can make your heart condition worse. Ask for information if you need help quitting.
Contact your healthcare provider or cardiologist if:
- You gain weight for no known reason.
- You feel weak or more tired than usual.
- You have increased swelling in your legs, ankles, feet, or abdomen.
- You have questions or concerns about your condition or care.
Seek care immediately or call 911 if:
- You feel like your heart is beating faster than normal, fluttering, or jumping in your chest.
- You urinate less than usual or not at all.
- You have chest pain that may be worse when you take a deep breath or cough. You may cough up blood.
- You have a sudden cold sweat, especially with chest discomfort or trouble breathing.
- You feel very lightheaded or dizzy, especially with chest discomfort or trouble breathing.
- You have pain or discomfort in your back, neck, jaw, abdomen, or one or both of your arms.
- You have a severe headache or vision loss.
- You have weakness in an arm or leg.
- You are confused or have difficulty speaking.
- You suddenly have trouble breathing.
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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.
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