What Is Dilated Cardiomyopathy?

Condition analysis:
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the most common type of nonischemic cardiomyopathy. In dilated cardiomyopathy, the heart's ability to pump blood is decreased because the heart's main pumping chamber, the left ventricle, is enlarged, dilated and weak. At first, the chambers of the heart respond by stretching to hold more blood to pump through the body. This helps to strengthen the heart's contraction and keep the blood moving for a short while. With time, the heart muscle walls weaken and are not able to pump as strongly. The kidneys often respond by retaining fluid (water) and sodium. If fluid builds up in the legs, ankles, feet, lungs or other organs, the body becomes congested, and congestive heart failure is the term used to describe this condition.

Instructions:
Coenzyme Q10: A growing number of nutrition oriented doctors believe that Coenzyme Q10 supplementation is essential for people with heart failure. According to them, Co Q10 may have allowed several of their patients to live longer, more active lives. It is also useful as a complementary therapy if you are waiting for heart transplant.
Several studies have been conducted that looked at coenzyme Q10's role in cardiovascular disease. The studies showed that coenzyme Q10 has clinical benefits for 70 percent of the patients having congestive heart failure. Coenzyme Q10 is normally concentrated in the heart muscle, and levels drop when the heart begins to fail.

In cardiomyopathy and other kinds of heart failure, supplements of coenzyme Q10 are thought to help the remaining muscle cells do their jobs more efficiently.
People with low levels of coenzyme Q10 aren't getting enough of the vitamins necessary to convert the amino acid tyrosine to coenzyme Q10.

Recommended Dose:
Take 120 to 360 milligrams of coenzyme Q10 a day, taken in doses of no more than 180 milligrams at a time.

Generally, people who have heart failure begin to see an improvement in symptoms in about four weeks, although some people may take as long as three months. Maximum improvement occurs after six months.