Understanding the Role of the Cardiac Muscle and the Diseases That Happen to It

The heart is a vital organ in the human body whose job is to pump blood throughout the body. In order for the process of blood circulation in the body to run optimally, it requires assistance from the heart muscle to carry out its functions.

Cardiac muscle is a constituent of the heart wall and has a function to pump blood, both towards the heart and vice versa, so that blood circulation occurs. In the heart, there are special nerves that play a role in regulating the uniformity of the rhythm of the heartbeat so that the pump function of the heart in maintaining blood circulation can run properly.

In general, cardiac muscle has a contractile ability similar to that of skeletal muscle. But in the heart, these muscle cells synergize with the heart's nervous tissue in supporting the process of regular heart organ contractions. Unlike skeletal muscle which can be controlled consciously, cardiac muscle will continue to work automatically, this is the main difference with striated muscle.

Types of Heart Muscle Disease

Because its function is very important in carrying out the work of the heart, it is natural that disorders of the heart muscle will have a negative impact on blood circulation in the body. One of the abnormalities in the heart muscle is cardiomyopathy. Cardiomyopathy is a decrease in the strength of the heart muscle so that it cannot circulate blood throughout the body adequately.

There are four types of cardiomyopathy, namely:

  • Dilated cardiomyopathy

    Dilated cardiomyopathy is the most common type of heart muscle disorder. This condition occurs when the heart muscle enlarges and stretches, causing the muscle fibers to become thinner and unable to contract properly. Dilated cardiomyopathy can be inherited genetically or caused by heart disease, uncontrolled high blood pressure, heart valve disorders, heart attacks, infections such as hepatitis and HIV, to long-term alcohol and cocaine consumption.

  • Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

    Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy arises due to abnormal thickening of the heart muscle, especially in the left ventricle (chamber) of the heart. This thickening makes the heart muscle unable to pump blood normally. Usually, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a genetic disease that runs in families. Or it could be due to other diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, and thyroid disorders.

  • Restrictive cardiomyopathy

    This type of cardiomyopathy is more common in the elderly. This type of cardiomyopathy arises as a result of the lack of elasticity of the heart muscle so that it cannot expand properly. This causes blood flow to the heart to be reduced or even stopped. No one knows for sure what causes restrictive cardiomyopathy. However, this condition can be part of other diseases that affect the heart, such as hemochromatosis (accumulation of iron in the body) and connective tissue disease.

  • Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia)

    This type of cardiomyopathy is very rare. This disorder arises due to the replacement of the right ventricular muscle with scar tissue. This change causes the walls of the heart chambers to thin and stretch. As a result, the heart rhythm becomes irregular and cannot circulate blood throughout the body optimally.

Until now no one knows for sure the cause of the emergence of cardiomyopathy. However, for some people, disorders of the heart muscle are more at risk if there are several factors, namely genetic disorders, family history of heart disease, obesity, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, pregnancy complications, excessive alcohol consumption, side effects of treatment such as chemotherapy, to drug abuse.

Maintain Heart Muscle Health

In some cases, cardiomyopathy cannot be prevented, especially if this condition arises due to genetic factors. However, you can still reduce the chances of developing symptoms of cardiomyopathy and other types of heart disease by adopting a healthy lifestyle, such as:

  • Limit consumption of caffeinated and alcoholic beverages.
  • Exercise regularly.
  • Manage stress well.
  • Stop smoking.
  • Maintain your ideal body weight. If you have a history of obesity, it is advisable to adjust your diet and lose weight.
  • Start a healthy diet on a regular basis, reduce foods that are too sweet, high in salt, and high in cholesterol.
  • Enough rest.
  • Check with your doctor regularly, especially if you have a history of diseases that can trigger cardiomyopathy, such as high cholesterol and diabetes.

By starting to adopt a healthy lifestyle, it is not impossible that you can reduce your risk of developing heart muscle disease and other heart problems. If you experience shortness of breath, excessive tiredness, chest pain, fast heart rate, and swelling of the legs and body, then immediately consult a doctor for proper treatment. Early treatment can reduce the risk of other, more dangerous complications.