How does someone know they have cardiomyopathy?

Question:

Sometimes I have shortness of breath but my doctor told me it's related to anxiety. I will admit that when I get anxious I get very short of breath and tend to panic, and that when I'm not anxious about something I feel fine. However I do feel fatigued when I wake up and I feel fatigued after excersizing so I can't excersize for long amounts of time. Anything I can do?

Answers:
If your doctor doesn't give you satisfactory answers and you know something is wrong, demand attention. Get a second opinion. Tell them what you think you have, tell them why you think you have it.
Meanwhile, get your exercise but do it moderately, gently. Don't exhaust yourself, there is no need. Being physical is good enough.

Other Answers:
Go to your doctor and ask if they can refer you to a cardiologist. They can then monitor your heart rate, do ultrasounds, treadmill tests, and other cool tests to see if anything's wrong.

Here is the information from the American Heart Association about cardiomyopathy:

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4468

If you don't get reasonable answers from your Dr. get another Dr.

Keep Smilin'

cardiomyopathy=enlarged heart, it shows up on a chest x-ray

Cardiomyopathy

Dilated Congestive Cardiomyopathy

Symptoms of Dilated Congestive Cardiomyopathy

Shortness of breath on exertion

Getting easily tired (fatigue)

When cardiomyopathy results from an infection:

A sudden fever

Flu-like symptoms.

Increased heart rate speeds

Normal or low blood pressure

Fluid retention in the legs and abdomen

Lungs get filled up with fluid

The enlargement of the heart causes the heart valves to open and close improperly. The valves leading to the ventricles (the mitral valve and the tricuspid valve) often leak. Improper valve closure causes murmurs
Damage to and stretching of the heart muscle may make the heart rhythm abnormally fast or slow.
The above abnormalities interfere further with the heart's pumping action.

Diagnosis of Dilated Congestive Cardiomyopathy

The diagnosis is based on the symptoms and a physical examination. The following tests may be used to supplement the diagnosis:

Electrocardiography may show characteristic changes.

Echo- cardiography

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be used to confirm the diagnosis.

If the diagnosis still remains in doubt, a catheter is used for more precise evaluation. It may be used to confirm the diagnosis and to detect the cause.

Caution: Cardiomyopathy is a life-threatening condition. If you suspect you or someone you know is suffering from cardiomyopathy, seek medical assistance immediately.

Well to know if you have anything heart related in your situation, you need an echocardiogram. (heart ultrasound) But like your doc said your shortness of breath is more than likely related to anxiety. And its normal to feel fatigued after exercising and during especially if you're out of shape. A gradual work up in exercise is what you need. However, depending on your situation, you may want to be more concerned with coronary artery disease especially if your overweight w/ high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and have a family history. But to put your mind at ease ask for at least a stress test (ekg while on a treadmill) and an echocardiogram.

Have your doctor do an acho if you are concerned. I didnt know until i went in for surgery and almost died. My ejection fraction was so low that my heart was almost dead. I blamed my allergies for being tired and fatigued.

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How does someone know they have cardiomyopathy?

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