Treatment is focused on relieving the symptoms and treating the underlying cause of the condition. Hospitalization may be required when the symptoms are severe.

There have been many major studies in this area, because this condition is so common and serious. Several types of medications have been found to help patients live longer with this disorder. They are ACE-inhibitors (e.g., captopril, lisinopril, etc.), beta-blockers (e.g., metoprolol, carvedilol, etc.), and aldosterone. In addition to these, diuretics ("water pills") and digoxin are frequently used.

Patients with this disorder usually will have a cardiac catheterization performed to see if they are candidates for bypass surgery or angioplasty ("balloon procedure"). The goal of these treatments is to improve blood flow to the damaged or weakened heart muscle.

A heart transplant may be recommended for patients who have failed all the standard treatments and still have very severe symptoms. Recently, implantable, artificial heart pumps have been developed. At this point, very, very few patients will be able to undergo either of these advanced treaments.

If you smoke or drink alcohol excessively, stop doing so, because these habits increase the workload of the heart.

This is a very serious disorder. Patients with this condition, in general, do not have a normal lifespan. For some, the prognosis is just as bad as for many forms of cancer. Thus, it is very important to discuss your particular situation with your doctor to ensure that you can improve it as much as possible.

• Arrhythmias, including lethal arrhythmias
• Cardiogenic shock