Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy occurs with greater frequency in people who drink to excess.²⁴ Alcoholics are at significantly greater risk of developing a deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B1).^25,26 They also may develop a form of thiamine deficiency called wet beri beri or Shoshin beri beri, which frequently includes cardiomyopathy.^27,28 See “Nutritional supplements that may be helpful,” below, for more information.

Among alcoholics, the risk of developing DCM is greater for women than for men.²⁹ Many doctors suggest that people with cardiomyopathy abstain from alcohol consumption. People with alcohol-induced cardiomyopathy who avoid alcohol may regain their health.

Moderate to heavy physical activity can be life-threatening for people with cardiomyopathy;³⁰ however, appropriate exercise often improves the condition.^31,32,33,34How much is “too much” varies from person to person. Any exercise program undertaken by someone with cardiomyopathy requires professional supervision.

The risk of being diagnosed with cardiomyopathy goes up with the number of cigarettes smoked per day.^35,36 However, a few studies have reported a paradoxical decrease in the death rate among smokers with DCM compared with nonsmokers who have this disease.^37,38 While the meaning of this association remains unclear, virtually all doctors recommend that smokers with DCM quit smoking for a wide variety of health-related reasons.