What are the tests for cardiomyopathy?

If the elderly suffer from cardiomyopathy, they need timely treatment. The symptoms of cardiomyopathy are quite obvious, such as difficulty breathing. If you experience any heart problems, you should get checked out right away. The examination for cardiomyopathy is described in detail below.

1. Electrocardiogram

Dilated cardiomyopathy: Electrocardiogram examination mainly shows ST segment depression, flat or inverted T waves, and pathological Q waves in a few cases.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: The electrocardiogram often shows left ventricular hypertrophy and ST-T changes, with some Q waves appearing. Atrioventricular block and bundle branch block are also common.

Restrictive cardiomyopathy: ECG shows low voltage, atrial and ventricular hypertrophy, bundle branch block, ST-T changes and arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation.

2. Physical examination

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Physical examination shows that the cardiac border may be enlarged to the left, mid-systolic and late-systolic ejection murmurs may be heard in the precordial area, and the second heart sound is often split.

Restrictive cardiomyopathy: Physical examination reveals weak heart beats, pure heart sounds, hyperactive second heart sound in the pulmonary valve area, diastolic gallop rhythm and arrhythmia.

3. Echocardiography

Dilated cardiomyopathy: enlargement of the heart chambers, weakening of the ventricular septum and left ventricular posterior wall, reduced ejection fraction, and enlargement of the left and right ventricular outflow tracts.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Echocardiography is of great diagnostic value for this disease, which manifests as thickening of the ventricular septum and left ventricular wall. The ratio of their thickness is often greater than the normal 1.3:1. Clinical manifestations combined with echocardiography and ventriculography can often lead to a confirmed diagnosis.

Restrictive cardiomyopathy: Two-dimensional echocardiography showed narrow heart chambers, apical occlusion, endocardial thickening and severely impaired ventricular diastolic function.