Heart transplants occur when the heart can no longer effectively pump blood through the body. This is known as heart failure. Heart failure occurs when there has been severe damage to the heart muscle.The symptoms of heart failure include shortness of breath, poor exercise tolerance, fatigue and fluid retention, according to the American Heart Association. Heart failure severe enough to place a patient on the transplant list can be caused by several different disease processes.
Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary artery disease is the most common cause of heart failure according to the American Heart Association. Blockages that form in the coronary arteries diminish blood flow to the heart muscle which deprives the heart of oxygen and nutrients.When arteries are completely blocked the heart does not receive any blood and that part of the heart muscle dies. This is known as a heart attack. Multiple heart attacks can severely damage the heart muscle causing ineffective pumping. Symptoms of ineffective pumping include shortness of breath, fatigue and fluid retention. Severe heart failure due to coronary artery disease is a reason to be placed on the heart transplant list.
Cardiomyopathy
According to the American Heart Association, cardiomyopathy is a serious disease process that causes the heart to become enlarged and inflamed. Cardiomyopathy is caused by different disease processes. Viral infection is one of the main reasons for cardiomyopathy. Because the heart is stretched, blood moves more slowly through the chambers which causes pooling of the blood. This pooling of the blood can cause blood clots to form which can cause damage to the lungs or stroke. Patients with dilated cardiomyopathy or a stretched, enlarged heart have symptoms of heart failure. The heart normally pumps around 65 percent of its blood volume from the left ventricle into the aorta. This percentage is known as the ejection fraction. Patients with heart failure due to cardiomyopathy can have ejection fractions as low as 15 percent. This is severe heart failure and cause for heart transplant.
Alcohol Induced Cardiomyopathy
According to a May 6, 2008 article printed in ScienceDaily.com, it is thought that up to 36 percent of dilated cardiomyopathy is caused by excessive drinking. Alcohol has very specific effects on the heart and long term drinking not only affects the function of the heart but the structure of the heart. Alcohol reduces the hearts ability to pump and also affects the filling and relaxation mechanisms of the heart. Cell death due to excessive alcohol also occurs. These effects are irreversible over time. Heart failure is an "end point" of the disease process and the ability to detect the pathology earlier could save lives according to ScienceDaily. Patients with alcoholic induced cardiomyopathy must stop drinking prior to heart transplant.
