Amnesia

 Retrograde amnesia
When you have retrograde amnesia, you lose existing, previously made
memories. This type of amnesia tends to affect recently formed memories
first. Older memories, such as memories from childhood, are usually
affected more slowly. Diseases such as dementia cause gradual retrograde
amnesia.

 Anterograde amnesia
When you have anterograde amnesia, you can’t form new memories. This
effect can be temporary. For example, you can experience it during a
blackout caused by too much alcohol. It can also be permanent. You can
experience it if the area of your brain known as your hippocampus is
damaged. Your hippocampus plays an important role in forming memories.

 Transient global amnesia

Transient global amnesia (TGA) is a poorly understood condition. If you
develop it, you will experience confusion or agitation that comes and goes
repeatedly over the course of several hours. You may experience memory
loss in the hours before the attack, and you will probably have no lasting
memory of the experience. Scientists think that TGA occurs as the result of
seizure-like activity or a brief blockage of the blood vessels supplying your
brain. It occurs more frequently in middle-aged and older adults.
  Infantile amnesia
Most people can’t remember the first three to five years of life. This
common phenomenon is called infantile or childhood amnesia.

Causes of amnesia

Dementia
A memory’s location in your brain is thought to depend on its age. To lose
old memories, you must have widespread brain deterioration. This can be
caused by Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. People with
dementia usually lose more recent memories first and keep older memories
longer.

Anoxia
A depletion of oxygen levels can also affect your entire brain and lead to
memory loss. This condition is called anoxia. If the anoxia isn’t severe
enough to cause brain damage, the memory loss can be temporary.

Damage to the hippocampus

Your hippocampus is a part of the brain and limbic system responsible for
memory. Its activities include forming memories, organizing memories, and
retrieving them when needed. Its cells are some of your brain’s most
energy-hungry and fragile. They’re most easily disrupted by anoxia and
other threats such toxins.
When your hippocampus is impaired, you will have difficulty forming new
memories. If your hippocampus is damaged in both halves of your brain,
you can develop complete anterograde amnesia.

Head injuries
Traumatic head injuries, as well as stroke, tumors, and infections, can also
cause damage to your brain. This damage can include permanent memory
problems. Concussions commonly disrupt memories of the hours, days, or
weeks before and after you were injured.

Alcohol use
Short-term alcohol use can cause blackout. This is a temporary form of
anterograde amnesia. Long-term alcoholism can cause Wernicke-Korsakoff
syndrome. If you develop this condition, you will have difficulty forming
new memories but may not be aware of it.

Trauma or stress
Severe trauma or stress can also cause dissociative amnesia. With this
condition, your mind rejects thoughts, feelings, or information that you’re
too overwhelmed to handle. A specific type of dissociative amnesia, called
dissociative fugue, can lead to unexpected traveling or wandering. It can
also lead to amnesia around the circumstances of traveling as well as
forgetting other details of your life.
 Electroconvulsive therapy
If you receive electroconvulsive therapy for depression or other conditions,
you could experience retrograde amnesia of the weeks or months before
your treatment. You could also experience anterograde amnesia, usually
resolving within 2 weeks of the treatment.

How is amnesia diagnosed?

Amnesia can be diagnosed by your doctor or a neurologist. They will start

by asking questions about your memory loss, as well as other symptoms
you may have. They may ask a family member or caregiver to help with
their evaluation, since you may not be able to remember the answers to
their questions.

Your doctor may also use cognitive tests to check your memory. They may
also order other diagnostic tests. For example, they may use an MRI or CT
scan to check for signs of brain damage. They may use blood tests to check
for nutritional deficiencies, infections, or other issues. They may also
perform tests to check for seizures.
 How is amnesia treated?

To treat amnesia, your doctor will focus on the underlying cause of your
condition.

Chemically induced amnesia, from alcohol for example, can be resolved

through detoxification. Once the drug is out of your system, your memory
problems will probably subside.

Amnesia from mild head trauma usually resolves without treatment over
time. Amnesia from severe head injury may not recede. However,
improvements usually occur within six to nine months.

Amnesia from dementia is often incurable. However, your doctor may

prescribe medications to support learning and memory.

If you have persistent memory loss, your doctor may recommend

occupational therapy. This type of therapy can help you learn new
information and memory skills for daily living. Your therapist can also teach
you how to use memory aids and techniques for organizing information to
make it easier to retrieve.
 Preventing amnesia

The following healthy habits can lower your risk of blackouts, head injuries,
dementia, stroke, and other potential causes of memory loss:

 Avoid heavy use of alcohol or drugs.

 Use protective headgear when you’re playing sports that put you at
high risk of concussion.
 Stay mentally active throughout your life. For instance, take classes,
explore new places, read new books, and play mentally challenging
games.
 Stay physically active throughout your life.
 Eat a heart-healthy diet, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and
low-fat proteins.
 Stay hydrated.
 Types of Mental Illness
There are many different conditions that are recognized as mental
illnesses. The more common types include:

 Anxiety disorders: People with anxiety disorders respond to

certain objects or situations with fear and dread, as well as with
physical signs of anxiety or panic, such as a rapid heartbeat
and sweating. An anxiety disorder is diagnosed if the person's
response is not appropriate for the situation, if the person cannot
control the response, or if the anxiety interferes with normal
functioning. Anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder,
panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobias.

 Mood disorders: These disorders, also called affective disorders,

involve persistent feelings of sadness or periods of feeling overly
happy, or fluctuations from extreme happiness to extreme sadness.
The most common mood disorders are depression, bipolar disorder,
and cyclothymic disorder.

 Psychotic disorders: Psychotic disorders involve distorted

awareness and thinking. Two of the most common symptoms of
psychotic disorders are hallucinations -- the experience of images or
sounds that are not real, such as hearing voices -- and delusions,
which are false fixed beliefs that the ill person accepts as true,
despite evidence to the contrary. Schizophrenia is an example of a
psychotic disorder.
 Eating disorders: Eating disorders involve extreme emotions,
attitudes, and behaviors involving weight and food. Anorexia
nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder are the most
common eating disorders.

 Impulse control and addiction disorders: People with impulse

control disorders are unable to resist urges, or impulses, to perform
acts that could be harmful to themselves or others. Pyromania
(starting fires), kleptomania (stealing), and compulsive gambling are
examples of impulse control disorders. Alcohol and drug are
common objects of addictions. Often, people with these disorders
become so involved with the objects of their addiction that they
begin to ignore responsibilities and relationships.

 Personality disorders: People with personality disorders have

extreme and inflexible personality traits that are distressing to the
person and/or cause problems in work, school, or
social relationships. In addition, the person's patterns of thinking
and behavior significantly differ from the expectations of society and
are so rigid that they interfere with the person's normal functioning.
Examples include antisocial personality disorder, obsessive-
compulsive personality disorder, and paranoid personality disorder.

 Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): People with OCD are

plagued by constant thoughts or fears that cause them to perform
certain rituals or routines. The disturbing thoughts are called
obsessions, and the rituals are called compulsions. An example is a
person with an unreasonable fear of germs who constantly washes
his or her hands.
  Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): PTSD is a condition that
can develop following a traumatic and/or terrifying event, such as a
sexual or physical assault, the unexpected death of a loved one, or a
natural disaster. People with PTSD often have lasting and frightening
thoughts and memories of the event, and tend to be emotionally
numb.

Other, less common types of mental illnesses include:

 Stress response syndromes (formerly called adjustment

disorders):Stress response syndromes occur when a person
develops emotional or behavioral symptoms in response to a
stressful event or situation. The stressors may include natural
disasters, such as an earthquake or tornado; events or crises, such
as a car accident or the diagnosis of a major illness; or interpersonal
problems, such as a divorce, death of a loved one, loss of a job, or a
problem with substance abuse. Stress response syndromes usually
begin within three months of the event or situation and ends within
six months after the stressor stops or is eliminated.

 Dissociative disorders: People with these disorders suffer severe

disturbances or changes in memory, consciousness, identity, and
general awareness of themselves and their surroundings. These
disorders usually are associated with overwhelming stress, which
may be the result of traumatic events, accidents, or disasters that
may be experienced or witnessed by the individual. Dissociative
identity disorder, formerly called multiple personality disorder, or
"split personality," and depersonalization disorder are examples of
dissociative disorders.
 Factitious disorders: Factitious disorders are conditions in which a
person knowingly and intentionally creates or complains of physical
and/or emotional symptoms in order to place the individual in the
role of a patient or a person in need of help.

 Sexual and gender disorders: These include disorders that affect

sexual desire, performance, and behavior. Sexual dysfunction,
gender identity disorder, and the paraphilias are examples of sexual
and gender disorders.

 Somatic symptom disorders: A person with a somatic symptom

disorder, formerly known as a psychosomatic disorder
or somatoform disorder, experiences physical symptoms of an
illness or of pain with an excessive and disproportionate level of
distress, regardless of whether or not a doctor can find a medical
cause for the symptoms.

 Tic disorders: People with tic disorders make sounds or display

nonpurposeful body movements that are repeated, quick, sudden,
and/or uncontrollable. (Sounds that are made involuntarily are called
vocal tics.) Tourette's syndrome is an example of a tic disorder.
A-
Ablutophobia- Fear of washing or bathing.
Acarophobia- Fear of itching or of the insects that cause itching.
Acerophobia- Fear of sourness.
Achluophobia- Fear of darkness.
Acousticophobia- Fear of noise.
Acrophobia- Fear of heights.
Aerophobia- Fear of drafts, air swallowing, or airbourne noxious substances.
Aeroacrophobia- Fear of open high places.
Aeronausiphobia- Fear of vomiting secondary to airsickness.
Agateophobia- Fear of insanity.
Agliophobia- Fear of pain.
Agoraphobia- Fear of open spaces or of being in crowded, public places like
markets. Fear of leaving a safe place.
Agraphobia- Fear of sexual abuse.
Agrizoophobia- Fear of wild animals.
Agyrophobia- Fear of streets or crossing the street.
Aichmophobia- Fear of needles or pointed objects.
Ailurophobia- Fear of cats.
Albuminurophobia- Fear of kidney disease.
Alektorophobia- Fear of chickens.
Algophobia- Fear of pain.
Alliumphobia- Fear of garlic.
Allodoxaphobia- Fear of opinions.
Altophobia- Fear of heights.
Amathophobia- Fear of dust.
Amaxophobia- Fear of riding in a car.
Ambulophobia- Fear of walking.
Amnesiphobia- Fear of amnesia.
Amychophobia- Fear of scratches or being scratched.
Anablephobia- Fear of looking up.
Ancraophobia- Fear of wind. (Anemophobia)
Androphobia- Fear of men.
Anemophobia- Fear of air drafts or wind.(Ancraophobia)
Anginophobia- Fear of angina, choking or narrowness.
Anglophobia- Fear of England or English culture, etc.
Angrophobia - Fear of anger or of becoming angry.
Ankylophobia- Fear of immobility of a joint.
Anthrophobia or Anthophobia- Fear of flowers.
Anthropophobia- Fear of people or society.
Antlophobia- Fear of floods.
Anuptaphobia- Fear of staying single.
Apeirophobia- Fear of infinity.
Aphenphosmphobia- Fear of being touched. (Haphephobia)
Apiphobia- Fear of bees.
Apotemnophobia- Fear of persons with amputations.
Arachibutyrophobia- Fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth.
Arachnephobia or Arachnophobia- Fear of spiders.
Arithmophobia- Fear of numbers.
Arrhenphobia- Fear of men.
Arsonphobia- Fear of fire.
Asthenophobia- Fear of fainting or weakness.
Astraphobia or Astrapophobia- Fear of thunder and lightning.(Ceraunophobia,
Keraunophobia)
Astrophobia- Fear of stars or celestial space.
Asymmetriphobia- Fear of asymmetrical things.
Ataxiophobia- Fear of ataxia. (muscular incoordination)
Ataxophobia- Fear of disorder or untidiness.
Atelophobia- Fear of imperfection.
Atephobia- Fear of ruin or ruins.
Athazagoraphobia- Fear of being forgotton or ignored or forgetting.
Atomosophobia- Fear of atomic explosions.
Atychiphobia- Fear of failure.
Aulophobia- Fear of flutes.
Aurophobia- Fear of gold.
Auroraphobia- Fear of Northern lights.
Autodysomophobia- Fear of one that has a vile odor.
Automatonophobia- Fear of ventriloquist's dummies, animatronic creatures, wax
statues - anything that falsly represents a sentient being.
Automysophobia- Fear of being dirty.
Autophobia- Fear of being alone or of oneself.
Aviophobia or Aviatophobia- Fear of flying.

B-
Bacillophobia- Fear of microbes.
Bacteriophobia- Fear of bacteria.
Ballistophobia- Fear of missiles or bullets.
Bolshephobia- Fear of Bolsheviks.
Barophobia- Fear of gravity.
Basophobia or Basiphobia- Inability to stand. Fear of walking or falling.
Bathmophobia- Fear of stairs or steep slopes.
Bathophobia- Fear of depth.
Batophobia- Fear of heights or being close to high buildings.
Batrachophobia- Fear of amphibians, such as frogs, newts, salamanders, etc.
Belonephobia- Fear of pins and needles. (Aichmophobia)
Bibliophobia- Fear of books.
Blennophobia- Fear of slime.
Bogyphobia- Fear of bogeys or the bogeyman.
Botanophobia- Fear of plants.
Bromidrosiphobia or Bromidrophobia- Fear of body smells.
Brontophobia- Fear of thunder and lightning.
Bufonophobia- Fear of toads.

C-
Cacophobia- Fear of ugliness.
Cainophobia or Cainotophobia- Fear of newness, novelty.
Caligynephobia- Fear of beautiful women.
Cancerophobia or Carcinophobia- Fear of cancer.
Cardiophobia- Fear of the heart.
Carnophobia- Fear of meat.
Catagelophobia- Fear of being ridiculed.
Catapedaphobia- Fear of jumping from high and low places.
Cathisophobia- Fear of sitting.
Catoptrophobia- Fear of mirrors.
Cenophobia or Centophobia- Fear of new things or ideas.
Ceraunophobia or Keraunophobia- Fear of thunder and lightning.(Astraphobia,
Astrapophobia)
Chaetophobia- Fear of hair.
Cheimaphobia or Cheimatophobia- Fear of cold.(Frigophobia, Psychophobia)
Chemophobia- Fear of chemicals or working with chemicals.
Cherophobia- Fear of gaiety.
Chionophobia- Fear of snow.
Chiraptophobia- Fear of being touched.
Chirophobia- Fear of hands.
Chiroptophobia- Fear of bats.
Cholerophobia- Fear of anger or the fear of cholera.
Chorophobia- Fear of dancing.
Chrometophobia or Chrematophobia- Fear of money.
Chromophobia or Chromatophobia- Fear of colors.
Chronophobia- Fear of time.
Chronomentrophobia- Fear of clocks.
Cibophobia- Fear of food.(Sitophobia, Sitiophobia)
Claustrophobia- Fear of confined spaces.
Cleithrophobia or Cleisiophobia- Fear of being locked in an enclosed place.
Cleptophobia- Fear of stealing.
Climacophobia- Fear of stairs, climbing, or of falling downstairs.
Clinophobia- Fear of going to bed.
Clithrophobia or Cleithrophobia- Fear of being enclosed.
Cnidophobia- Fear of stings.
Cometophobia- Fear of comets.
Coimetrophobia- Fear of cemeteries.
Coitophobia- Fear of coitus.
Contreltophobia- Fear of sexual abuse.
Coprastasophobia- Fear of constipation.
Coprophobia- Fear of feces.
Consecotaleophobia- Fear of chopsticks.
Coulrophobia- Fear of clowns.
Counterphobia- The preference by a phobic for fearful situations.
Cremnophobia- Fear of precipices.
Cryophobia- Fear of extreme cold, ice or frost.
Crystallophobia- Fear of crystals or glass.
Cyberphobia- Fear of computers or working on a computer.
Cyclophobia- Fear of bicycles.
Cymophobia or Kymophobia- Fear of waves or wave like motions.
Cynophobia- Fear of dogs or rabies.
Cypridophobia or Cypriphobia or Cyprianophobia or Cyprinophobia - Fear of
prostitutes or venereal disease.
D-
Decidophobia- Fear of making decisions.
Defecaloesiophobia- Fear of painful bowels movements.
Deipnophobia- Fear of dining or dinner conversations.
Dementophobia- Fear of insanity.
Demonophobia or Daemonophobia- Fear of demons.
Demophobia- Fear of crowds. (Agoraphobia)
Dendrophobia- Fear of trees.
Dentophobia- Fear of dentists.
Dermatophobia- Fear of skin lesions.
Dermatosiophobia or Dermatophobia or Dermatopathophobia- Fear of skin
disease.
Dextrophobia- Fear of objects at the right side of the body.
Diabetophobia- Fear of diabetes.
Didaskaleinophobia- Fear of going to school.
Dikephobia- Fear of justice.
Dinophobia- Fear of dizziness or whirlpools.
Diplophobia- Fear of double vision.
Dipsophobia- Fear of drinking.
Dishabiliophobia- Fear of undressing in front of someone.
Disposophobia- Fear of throwing stuff out. Hoarding.
Domatophobia- Fear of houses or being in a house.(Eicophobia, Oikophobia)
Doraphobia- Fear of fur or skins of animals.
Doxophobia- Fear of expressing opinions or of receiving praise.
Dromophobia- Fear of crossing streets.
Dutchphobia- Fear of the Dutch.
Dysmorphophobia- Fear of deformity.
Dystychiphobia- Fear of accidents.
E-
Ecclesiophobia- Fear of church.
Ecophobia- Fear of home.
Eicophobia- Fear of home surroundings.(Domatophobia, Oikophobia)
Eisoptrophobia- Fear of mirrors or of seeing oneself in a mirror.
Electrophobia- Fear of electricity.
Eleutherophobia- Fear of freedom.
Elurophobia- Fear of cats. (Ailurophobia)
Emetophobia- Fear of vomiting.
Enetophobia- Fear of pins.
Enochlophobia- Fear of crowds.
Enosiophobia or Enissophobia- Fear of having committed an unpardonable sin or
of criticism.
Entomophobia- Fear of insects.
Eosophobia- Fear of dawn or daylight.
Ephebiphobia- Fear of teenagers.
Epistaxiophobia- Fear of nosebleeds.
Epistemophobia- Fear of knowledge.
Equinophobia- Fear of horses.
Eremophobia- Fear of being oneself or of lonliness.
Ereuthrophobia- Fear of blushing.
Ergasiophobia- 1) Fear of work or functioning. 2) Surgeon's fear of operating.
Ergophobia- Fear of work.
Erotophobia- Fear of sexual love or sexual questions.
Euphobia- Fear of hearing good news.
Eurotophobia- Fear of female genitalia.
Erythrophobia or Erytophobia or Ereuthophobia- 1) Fear of redlights. 2) Blushing.
3) Red.
F-
Febriphobia or Fibriphobia or Fibriophobia- Fear of fever.
Felinophobia- Fear of cats. (Ailurophobia, Elurophobia, Galeophobia, Gatophobia)
Francophobia- Fear of France or French culture. (Gallophobia, Galiophobia)
Frigophobia- Fear of cold or cold things.(Cheimaphobia, Cheimatophobia,
Psychrophobia)

G-
Galeophobia or Gatophobia- Fear of cats.
Gallophobia or Galiophobia- Fear France or French culture. (Francophobia)
Gamophobia- Fear of marriage.
Geliophobia- Fear of laughter.
Gelotophobia- Fear of being laughed at.
Geniophobia- Fear of chins.
Genophobia- Fear of sex.
Genuphobia- Fear of knees.
Gephyrophobia or Gephydrophobia or Gephysrophobia- Fear of crossing bridges.
Germanophobia- Fear of Germany or German culture.
Gerascophobia- Fear of growing old.
Gerontophobia- Fear of old people or of growing old.
Geumaphobia or Geumophobia- Fear of taste.
Glossophobia- Fear of speaking in public or of trying to speak.
Gnosiophobia- Fear of knowledge.
Graphophobia- Fear of writing or handwriting.
Gymnophobia- Fear of nudity.
Gynephobia or Gynophobia- Fear of women.
H-
Hadephobia- Fear of hell.
Hagiophobia- Fear of saints or holy things.
Hamartophobia- Fear of sinning.
Haphephobia or Haptephobia- Fear of being touched.
Harpaxophobia- Fear of being robbed.
Hedonophobia- Fear of feeling pleasure.
Heliophobia- Fear of the sun.
Hellenologophobia- Fear of Greek terms or complex scientific terminology.
Helminthophobia- Fear of being infested with worms.
Hemophobia or Hemaphobia or Hematophobia- Fear of blood.
Heresyphobia or Hereiophobia- Fear of challenges to official doctrine or of radical
deviation.
Herpetophobia- Fear of reptiles or creepy, crawly things.
Heterophobia- Fear of the opposite sex. (Sexophobia)
Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia- Fear of the number 666.
Hierophobia- Fear of priests or sacred things.
Hippophobia- Fear of horses.
Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia- Fear of long words.
Hobophobia- Fear of bums or beggars.
Hodophobia- Fear of road travel.
Hormephobia- Fear of shock.
Homichlophobia- Fear of fog.
Homilophobia- Fear of sermons.
Hominophobia- Fear of men.
Homophobia- Fear of sameness, monotony or of homosexuality or of becoming
homosexual.
Hoplophobia- Fear of firearms.
Hydrargyophobia- Fear of mercurial medicines.
Hydrophobia- Fear of water or of rabies.
Hydrophobophobia- Fear of rabies.
Hyelophobia or Hyalophobia- Fear of glass.
Hygrophobia- Fear of liquids, dampness, or moisture.
Hylephobia- Fear of materialism or the fear of epilepsy.
Hylophobia- Fear of forests.
Hypengyophobia or Hypegiaphobia- Fear of responsibility.
Hypnophobia- Fear of sleep or of being hypnotized.
Hypsiphobia- Fear of height.

I-
Iatrophobia- Fear of going to the doctor or of doctors.
Ichthyophobia- Fear of fish.
Ideophobia- Fear of ideas.
Illyngophobia- Fear of vertigo or feeling dizzy when looking down.
Iophobia- Fear of poison.
Insectophobia - Fear of insects.
Isolophobia- Fear of solitude, being alone.
Isopterophobia- Fear of termites, insects that eat wood.
Ithyphallophobia- Fear of seeing, thinking about or having an erect penis .

J-
Japanophobia- Fear of Japanese.
Judeophobia- Fear of Jews.

K-
Kainolophobia or Kainophobia- Fear of anything new, novelty.
Kakorrhaphiophobia- Fear of failure or defeat.
Katagelophobia- Fear of ridicule.
Kathisophobia- Fear of sitting down.
Katsaridaphobia- Fear of cockroaches.
Kenophobia- Fear of voids or empty spaces.
Keraunophobia or Ceraunophobia- Fear of thunder and lightning.(Astraphobia,
Astrapophobia)
Kinetophobia or Kinesophobia- Fear of movement or motion.
Kleptophobia- Fear of stealing.
Koinoniphobia- Fear of rooms.
Kolpophobia- Fear of genitals, particularly female.
Kopophobia- Fear of fatigue.
Koniophobia- Fear of dust. (Amathophobia)
Kosmikophobia- Fear of cosmic phenomenon.
Kymophobia- Fear of waves. (Cymophobia)
Kynophobia- Fear of rabies.
Kyphophobia- Fear of stooping.

L-
Lachanophobia- Fear of vegetables.
Laliophobia or Lalophobia- Fear of speaking.
Leprophobia or Lepraphobia- Fear of leprosy.
Leukophobia- Fear of the color white.
Levophobia- Fear of things to the left side of the body.
Ligyrophobia- Fear of loud noises.
Lilapsophobia- Fear of tornadoes and hurricanes.
Limnophobia- Fear of lakes.
Linonophobia- Fear of string.
Liticaphobia- Fear of lawsuits.
Lockiophobia- Fear of childbirth.
Logizomechanophobia- Fear of computers.
Logophobia- Fear of words.
Luiphobia- Fear of lues, syphillis.
Lutraphobia- Fear of otters.
Lygophobia- Fear of darkness.
Lyssophobia- Fear of rabies or of becoming mad.
M-
Macrophobia- Fear of long waits.
Mageirocophobia- Fear of cooking.
Maieusiophobia- Fear of childbirth.
Malaxophobia- Fear of love play. (Sarmassophobia)
Maniaphobia- Fear of insanity.
Mastigophobia- Fear of punishment.
Mechanophobia- Fear of machines.
Medomalacuphobia- Fear of losing an erection.
Medorthophobia- Fear of an erect penis.
Megalophobia- Fear of large things.
Melissophobia- Fear of bees.
Melanophobia- Fear of the color black.
Melophobia- Fear or hatred of music.
Meningitophobia- Fear of brain disease.
Menophobia- Fear of menstruation.
Merinthophobia- Fear of being bound or tied up.
Metallophobia- Fear of metal.
Metathesiophobia- Fear of changes.
Meteorophobia- Fear of meteors.
Methyphobia- Fear of alcohol.
Metrophobia- Fear or hatred of poetry.
Microbiophobia- Fear of microbes. (Bacillophobia)
Microphobia- Fear of small things.
Misophobia or Mysophobia- Fear of being contaminated with dirt or germs.
Mnemophobia- Fear of memories.
Molysmophobia or Molysomophobia- Fear of dirt or contamination.
Monophobia- Fear of solitude or being alone.
Monopathophobia- Fear of definite disease.
Motorphobia- Fear of automobiles.
Mottephobia- Fear of moths.
Musophobia or Muriphobia- Fear of mice.
Mycophobia- Fear or aversion to mushrooms.
Mycrophobia- Fear of small things.
Myctophobia- Fear of darkness.
Myrmecophobia- Fear of ants.
Mythophobia- Fear of myths or stories or false statements.
Myxophobia- Fear of slime. (Blennophobia)

N-
Nebulaphobia- Fear of fog. (Homichlophobia)
Necrophobia- Fear of death or dead things.
Nelophobia- Fear of glass.
Neopharmaphobia- Fear of new drugs.
Neophobia- Fear of anything new.
Nephophobia- Fear of clouds.
Noctiphobia- Fear of the night.
Nomatophobia- Fear of names.
Nosocomephobia- Fear of hospitals.
Nosophobia or Nosemaphobia- Fear of becoming ill.
Nostophobia- Fear of returning home.
Novercaphobia- Fear of your step-mother.
Nucleomituphobia- Fear of nuclear weapons.
Nudophobia- Fear of nudity.
Numerophobia- Fear of numbers.
Nyctohylophobia- Fear of dark wooded areas or of forests at night
Nyctophobia- Fear of the dark or of night.
O-
Obesophobia- Fear of gaining weight.(Pocrescophobia)
Ochlophobia- Fear of crowds or mobs.
Ochophobia- Fear of vehicles.
Octophobia - Fear of the figure 8.
Odontophobia- Fear of teeth or dental surgery.
Odynophobia or Odynephobia- Fear of pain. (Algophobia)
Oenophobia- Fear of wines.
Oikophobia- Fear of home surroundings, house.(Domatophobia, Eicophobia)
Olfactophobia- Fear of smells.
Ombrophobia- Fear of rain or of being rained on.
Ommetaphobia or Ommatophobia- Fear of eyes.
Omphalophobia- Fear of belly buttons.
Oneirophobia- Fear of dreams.
Oneirogmophobia- Fear of wet dreams.
Onomatophobia- Fear of hearing a certain word or of names.
Ophidiophobia- Fear of snakes. (Snakephobia)
Ophthalmophobia- Fear of being stared at.
Opiophobia- Fear medical doctors experience of prescribing needed pain
medications for patients.
Optophobia- Fear of opening one's eyes.
Ornithophobia- Fear of birds.
Orthophobia- Fear of property.
Osmophobia or Osphresiophobia- Fear of smells or odors.
Ostraconophobia- Fear of shellfish.
Ouranophobia or Uranophobia- Fear of heaven.
P-
Pagophobia- Fear of ice or frost.
Panthophobia- Fear of suffering and disease.
Panophobia or Pantophobia- Fear of everything.
Papaphobia- Fear of the Pope.
Papyrophobia- Fear of paper.
Paralipophobia- Fear of neglecting duty or responsibility.
Paraphobia- Fear of sexual perversion.
Parasitophobia- Fear of parasites.
Paraskavedekatriaphobia- Fear of Friday the 13th.
Parthenophobia- Fear of virgins or young girls.
Pathophobia- Fear of disease.
Patroiophobia- Fear of heredity.
Parturiphobia- Fear of childbirth.
Peccatophobia- Fear of sinning or imaginary crimes.
Pediculophobia- Fear of lice.
Pediophobia- Fear of dolls.
Pedophobia- Fear of children.
Peladophobia- Fear of bald people.
Pellagrophobia- Fear of pellagra.
Peniaphobia- Fear of poverty.
Pentheraphobia- Fear of mother-in-law. (Novercaphobia)
Phagophobia- Fear of swallowing or of eating or of being eaten.
Phalacrophobia- Fear of becoming bald.
Phallophobia- Fear of a penis, esp erect.
Pharmacophobia- Fear of taking medicine.
Phasmophobia- Fear of ghosts.
Phengophobia- Fear of daylight or sunshine.
Philemaphobia or Philematophobia- Fear of kissing.
Philophobia- Fear of falling in love or being in love.
Philosophobia- Fear of philosophy.
Phobophobia- Fear of phobias.
Photoaugliaphobia- Fear of glaring lights.
Photophobia- Fear of light.
Phonophobia- Fear of noises or voices or one's own voice; of telephones.
Phronemophobia- Fear of thinking.
Phthiriophobia- Fear of lice. (Pediculophobia)
Phthisiophobia- Fear of tuberculosis.
Placophobia- Fear of tombstones.
Plutophobia- Fear of wealth.
Pluviophobia- Fear of rain or of being rained on.
Pneumatiphobia- Fear of spirits.
Pnigophobia or Pnigerophobia- Fear of choking of being smothered.
Pocrescophobia- Fear of gaining weight. (Obesophobia)
Pogonophobia- Fear of beards.
Poliosophobia- Fear of contracting poliomyelitis.
Politicophobia- Fear or abnormal dislike of politicians.
Polyphobia- Fear of many things.
Poinephobia- Fear of punishment.
Ponophobia- Fear of overworking or of pain.
Porphyrophobia- Fear of the color purple.
Potamophobia- Fear of rivers or running water.
Potophobia- Fear of alcohol.
Pharmacophobia- Fear of drugs.
Proctophobia- Fear of rectums.
Prosophobia- Fear of progress.
Psellismophobia- Fear of stuttering.
Psychophobia- Fear of mind.
Psychrophobia- Fear of cold.
Pteromerhanophobia- Fear of flying.
Pteronophobia- Fear of being tickled by feathers.
Pupaphobia - Fear of puppets.
Pyrexiophobia- Fear of Fever.
Pyrophobia- Fear of fire.

Q-
Quadraphobia- fear of the number four.
Quadriplegiphobia- fear of quadriplegics or fear of becoming a quadriplegic.
Quintaphobia- fear of the number five.
R-
Radiophobia- Fear of radiation, x-rays.
Ranidaphobia- Fear of frogs.
Rectophobia- Fear of rectum or rectal diseases.
Rhabdophobia- Fear of being severely punished or beaten by a rod, or of being
severely criticized. Also fear of magic.(wand)
Rhypophobia- Fear of defecation.
Rhytiphobia- Fear of getting wrinkles.
Rupophobia- Fear of dirt.
Russophobia- Fear of Russians.

S-
Samhainophobia: Fear of Halloween.
Sarmassophobia- Fear of love play. (Malaxophobia)
Satanophobia- Fear of Satan.
Scabiophobia- Fear of scabies.
Scatophobia- Fear of fecal matter.
Scelerophibia- Fear of bad men, burglars.
Sciophobia Sciaphobia- Fear of shadows.
Scoleciphobia- Fear of worms.
Scolionophobia- Fear of school.
Scopophobia or Scoptophobia- Fear of being seen or stared at.
Scotomaphobia- Fear of blindness in visual field.
Scotophobia- Fear of darkness. (Achluophobia)
Scriptophobia- Fear of writing in public.
Selachophobia- Fear of sharks.
Selaphobia- Fear of light flashes.
Selenophobia- Fear of the moon.
Seplophobia- Fear of decaying matter.
Sesquipedalophobia- Fear of long words.
Sexophobia- Fear of the opposite sex. (Heterophobia)
Siderodromophobia- Fear of trains, railroads or train travel.
Siderophobia- Fear of stars.
Sinistrophobia- Fear of things to the left or left-handed.
Sinophobia- Fear of Chinese, Chinese culture.
Sitophobia or Sitiophobia- Fear of food or eating. (Cibophobia)
Snakephobia- Fear of snakes. (Ophidiophobia)
Soceraphobia- Fear of parents-in-law.
Social Phobia- Fear of being evaluated negatively in social situations.
Sociophobia- Fear of society or people in general.
Somniphobia- Fear of sleep.
Sophophobia- Fear of learning.
Soteriophobia - Fear of dependence on others.
Spacephobia- Fear of outer space.
Spectrophobia- Fear of specters or ghosts.
Spermatophobia or Spermophobia- Fear of germs.
Spheksophobia- Fear of wasps.
Stasibasiphobia or Stasiphobia- Fear of standing or walking. (Ambulophobia)
Staurophobia- Fear of crosses or the crucifix.
Stenophobia- Fear of narrow things or places.
Stygiophobia or Stigiophobia- Fear of hell.
Suriphobia- Fear of mice.
Symbolophobia- Fear of symbolism.
Symmetrophobia- Fear of symmetry.
Syngenesophobia- Fear of relatives.
Syphilophobia- Fear of syphilis.
T-
Tachophobia- Fear of speed.
Taeniophobia or Teniophobia- Fear of tapeworms.
Taphephobia Taphophobia- Fear of being buried alive or of cemeteries.
Tapinophobia- Fear of being contagious.
Taurophobia- Fear of bulls.
Technophobia- Fear of technology.
Teleophobia- 1) Fear of definite plans. 2) Religious ceremony.
Telephonophobia- Fear of telephones.
Teratophobia- Fear of bearing a deformed child or fear of monsters or deformed
people.
Testophobia- Fear of taking tests.
Tetanophobia- Fear of lockjaw, tetanus.
Teutophobia- Fear of German or German things.
Textophobia- Fear of certain fabrics.
Thaasophobia- Fear of sitting.
Thalassophobia- Fear of the sea.
Thanatophobia or Thantophobia- Fear of death or dying.
Theatrophobia- Fear of theatres.
Theologicophobia- Fear of theology.
Theophobia- Fear of gods or religion.
Thermophobia- Fear of heat.
Tocophobia- Fear of pregnancy or childbirth.
Tomophobia- Fear of surgical operations.
Tonitrophobia- Fear of thunder.
Topophobia- Fear of certain places or situations, such as stage fright.
Toxiphobia or Toxophobia or Toxicophobia- Fear of poison or of being accidently
poisoned.
Traumatophobia- Fear of injury.
Tremophobia- Fear of trembling.
Trichinophobia- Fear of trichinosis.
Trichopathophobia or Trichophobia- Fear of hair. (Chaetophobia,
Hypertrichophobia)
Triskaidekaphobia- Fear of the number 13.
Tropophobia- Fear of moving or making changes.
Trypanophobia- Fear of injections.
Tuberculophobia- Fear of tuberculosis.
Tyrannophobia- Fear of tyrants.

U-
Uranophobia or Ouranophobia- Fear of heaven.
Urophobia- Fear of urine or urinating.

V-
Vaccinophobia- Fear of vaccination.
Venustraphobia- Fear of beautiful women.
Verbophobia- Fear of words.
Verminophobia- Fear of germs.
Vestiphobia- Fear of clothing.
Virginitiphobia- Fear of rape.
Vitricophobia- Fear of step-father.

W-

Walloonphobia- Fear of the Walloons.

Wiccaphobia: Fear of witches and witchcraft.
X-
Xanthophobia- Fear of the color yellow or the word yellow.
Xenoglossophobia- Fear of foreign languages.
Xenophobia- Fear of strangers or foreigners.
Xerophobia- Fear of dryness.
Xylophobia- 1) Fear of wooden objects. 2) Forests.
Xyrophobia-Fear of razors.

Y-

Z-
Zelophobia- Fear of jealousy.
Zeusophobia- Fear of God or gods.
Zemmiphobia- Fear of the great mole rat.
Zoophobia- Fear of animals.
Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy means "disease of the heart muscle." Cardiomyopathy damages
the muscle tone of the heart and reduces its ability to pump blood to the rest
of the body.

As many as 1 in 5 adults may have cardiomyopathy, and many do not even know
they have the condition. Cardiomyopathy is a leading cause of heart failure and
the most common reason for needing a heart transplant.

Cardiomyopathy is so dangerous because it often goes unrecognized and

untreated. Also, it is different from other heart problems because it frequently
affects younger people. There are 4 main types of cardiomyopathy.
  Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Dilated cardiomyopathy is the most common form of cardiomyopathy. Also called
congestive cardiomyopathy, it affects the chambers of the heart by weakening
their walls. In most cases, doctors do not know the cause of dilated
cardiomyopathy. When the cause is unknown, it is called idiopathic.

Also called "congestive cardiomyopathy," dilated cardiomyopathy damages the

muscle tissue that makes up the heart's pumping chambers. If the chamber walls
become weak enough, the heart can no longer perform its normal pumping
action.

At first, your body's functions will remain near normal. Other parts of the body
will try to make up for the heart's decreased pumping power by increasing the
amount of fluid they hold—and by making more blood than usual. The heart
chambers then expand (dilate) to make room for this greater blood volume. This
expansion can initially restore some of the heart's pumping strength because the
more a muscle is stretched, the more forcefully it can contract.

But, in time, the stretching of the heart muscle causes the heart to get bigger, or
enlarge. This is called cardiomegaly. Doctors can usually tell if cardiomegaly is
present by measuring the size of your heart. Cardiomegaly is present if the
diameter of the heart is more than 50% of the inner diameter of the ribcage (the
cardiothoracic ratio).

The long-term effects of cardiomegaly are not good. Your heart will try to increase
its rate to pump more blood through your body. And, when the heart cannot
contract as well, it will affect your circulation and cause excess body fluid to build
up in your lungs, the area above your stomach (abdomen), and your legs. This
fluid buildup makes breathing difficult and causes swelling (called edema). These
are 2 common symptoms of heart failure.
Cardiomegaly sometimes leads to abnormal heart rhythms (called arrhythmias).
Also, blood flows more slowly through an enlarged heart, so blood clots may
easily form. These clots can break free and enter the circulation, ending up in the
lungs (called a pulmonary emboli) or blocking a vessel in the brain or heart.

What are the causes?

Most cases of dilated cardiomyopathy are called "idiopathic," which means that
no exact cause can be found. Some doctors think that viral infections may be
responsible. Because you may have had the viral infection months or even years
before you show any sign of a weakened heart muscle, the exact cause of dilated
cardiomyopathy is difficult to pinpoint.

Other cases of dilated cardiomyopathy can be traced to the following causes:

 Alcohol and other toxic substances

Up to 30% of cases of dilated cardiomyopathy can be linked to heavy

drinking. After years of heavy drinking, the heart can be weakened by
alcohol's toxic effect on its muscle cells. Also, heavy drinkers tend to drink
alcohol instead of eating food, which leads to poor nutrition. Other toxic
substances, including some chemicals and pesticides, have also been shown
to weaken the heart muscle. Also, drug abuse has been found to weaken
the heart muscle.

 Poor nutrition

If your body does not get enough of the essential vitamins and minerals it
needs, especially vitamin B-1, it can lead to dilated cardiomyopathy. This is
more common in developing countries than in the United States and other
developed nations.
 Inflammation

In a rare condition called myocarditis, the heart muscle becomes swollen or

inflamed because of an infection by a virus, less often, by bacteria, or by
another infective process. You may not feel any symptoms at all. You may
have an achy feeling in your chest and feel tired like you have a bad cold or
the flu. Usually, a mild case of myocarditis will go away without any lasting
damage. In fact, you may not even know you have it. Severe cases are often
not diagnosed until you have the symptoms of heart failure. Even a severe
case may go away without notice, but these severe cases usually cause
ongoing heart muscle damage that cannot be reversed.

 Pregnancy and childbirth

In rare cases, women may develop heart muscle disease late in pregnancy
or during the first few months after childbirth. This is called peripartum
cardiomyopathy. With or without having had a viral or bacterial infection, a
pregnant woman's heart muscle may become inflamed. Researchers do not
know why this happens. They do know that if the woman gets over the
disease and becomes pregnant again, she is again at risk for developing the
condition. Also, in the United States, African American women develop
peripartum cardiomyopathy more often than women of other races do.

 Heredity

Although scientists do not know if there is a gene that causes people to

develop dilated cardiomyopathy, many think that genetics plays a role.
They point to cases where members of the same family have the disease.
Also, some genetic brain disorders, such as muscular dystrophy, are
associated with heart muscle disease.

 Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)

Recent studies have shown that AIDS increases the risk of dilated
cardiomyopathy. Anywhere from 1% to 8% of patients with AIDS have this
type of heart damage.
What are the symptoms?

Sometimes dilated cardiomyopathy does not cause any symptoms. At other

times, you may feel symptoms most often associated with the common cold or
flu: chills, fever, overall aches, and fatigue.

When your heart becomes very enlarged, you will feel symptoms. These
symptoms include chest pain, extreme tiredness, shortness of breath, and
swelling of the legs and ankles. All of these are the early signs of heart failure.

How is it diagnosed?

 A chest X-ray will show if your heart is enlarged and if there is fluid in your
lungs.

 An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) can show areas of your heart that are
damaged.

 Echocardiography can be used to show the size of your heart and how
much damage there is. Echocardiography is also used to see if there is
decreased heart wall motion (called hypokinesia or hypokinesis).

 Angiography, a cardiac catheterization procedure, can give a detailed view

of how well your heart's arteries, chambers, and valves are working.

 A biopsy of tissue from the wall of your heart may help doctors find out
how seriously your heart has been damaged, or what process may be
causing the damage.

How is it treated?

Whether a cause can be identified or not, treatment focuses on relieving the

symptoms, as well as on relieving the extra load on the heart. Lifestyle changes,
medicines, and surgery may be needed.
If doctors can find the cause of your dilated cardiomyopathy, your treatment may
be more specific. For example, changing what you eat or limiting how much
alcohol you drink can actually reverse the damage that has been done to your
heart. In some cases of alcohol-caused dilated cardiomyopathy, quitting drinking
altogether allows your body to repair itself.

Lifestyle changes

Some people may need to lose weight and stop smoking. You should also try to
get enough sleep, limit how much salt you eat, and start a moderate exercise
program that has been approved by your doctor. Improving your overall fitness
can help ease the demands on your heart and help your medicines work better.

Medicines

Medicines can help manage symptoms and improve heart action.

 Diuretics reduce excess fluid in the body.

 Vasodilators, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, relax

blood vessels and help to lower blood pressure.

 Inotropic agents such as digitalis, help to improve the heart's pumping

action and keep a regular heartbeat.

 Calcium channel blockers or beta-blockers help to keep a regular heartbeat

and lessen the work of the heart muscle.

In some cases, patients may need to have oxygen available at all times.

Surgery

For some patients, the damage to the heart muscle is so bad that medicines are
not enough. For these patients, doctors may recommend a heart transplant.
Patients may need the support of a heart assist device while they are waiting for a
donor heart. In some cases, the device may give the heart enough time to recover
its function so that the patient no longer needs a heart transplant.
  Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the second most common form of

cardiomyopathy, causes a thickening of the heart's walls. Most often, it is an
inherited disease, but sometimes the cause is not clear. It can affect people of all
ages.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is an inherited disease that directly affects

the heart muscle. Because of several high-profile cases of young athletes dying
suddenly of HCM, people think it is a disease that affects only athletes. But this
disease can make anyone sick—men, women, and children of all ages—no matter
how physically fit he or she is.

HCM is the second most common form of cardiomyopathy. If you have HCM, it
means that the walls of your heart are thicker than they should be. Some
thickening is normal for healthy people who exercise or who play competitive
sports. But with HCM, the thickening becomes extreme.

In time, the thickening of the heart muscle can cause the heart to get bigger, or
enlarge. This is called cardiomegaly. Doctors can usually tell if cardiomegaly is
present by measuring the size of the heart. Cardiomegaly is present if the
diameter of the heart is more than 50% of the inner diameter of the ribcage (the
cardiothoracic ratio).

In most patients with HCM, the septum, which separates the left and right sides of
the heart, bulges into the lower left chamber of the heart (the left ventricle). The
muscles in both of the lower chambers often become larger. These thickened
muscle walls may partly block the flow of blood through the aortic valve or
prevent the heart from relaxing between beats and filling with blood. In a small
number of HCM patients, the mitral valve, which separates the upper left
chamber (left atrium) and lower left chamber (left ventricle), may also be
damaged. Or the mitral valve may stick to the septum, which blocks the blood
flow through the valve.
What are the symptoms?

Fainting during strenuous exercise is often the first and most dramatic symptom
of this condition. If you have other symptoms, you may feel short of breath, tired,
and have chest pain. People who notice these warning signs should see a doctor
right away.

Young athletic adults who die of HCM usually do so without knowing they have
the condition. HCM is also harder to diagnose in athletes because it is similar to a
harmless condition called left ventricular hypertrophy, where the left ventricle of
the heart gets larger because of physical conditioning. Anyone—young or old—
who wants to take part in very active athletic competition should see a doctor and
have a thorough physical exam that includes an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
and chest x-ray.

See also on this site:

Center for Coronary Artery Anomalies

What causes HCM?

Researchers think that this form of cardiomyopathy is passed down through

family members. In more than half of the cases, people affected by hypertrophic
cardiomyopathy have close relatives who also have enlarged septums.

Luckily, there is a test that can determine who may be at risk for HCM. Using the
results of this test, doctors can warn children at risk about exercising too hard and
taking part in certain competitive sports.

Other cases of HCM have been traced to high blood pressure and heart valve
disease.
How is HCM diagnosed?

 A chest x-ray can show if your heart is enlarged.

 An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) can indicate if the chambers of your

heart are hypertrophied or enlarged.

 Echocardiography can be used to show the size of your heart and how
much muscle damage there is.

 Angiography, a cardiac catheterization procedure, can give a detailed view

of how well your heart's arteries, chambers, and valves are working.

 Radionuclide studies can give information on how well the heart is pumping
blood.

 Genetic testing may play an important role in helping doctors rule out other
diagnoses—for example, patients who have a small increase in wall
thickness (like trained athletes with ventricular hypertrophy) and some
patients with constant high blood pressure who are thought to have HCM.

How is HCM treated?

Often the treatments for this condition are used to ease the symptoms rather
than treat the condition itself. Treatments include lifestyle changes, medicines,
and surgery.

Lifestyle changes

Patients with serious HCM must stay less physically active. Children and young
adults who have had the gene testing and are thought to be at risk for HCM
should avoid exercising too much and avoid taking part in certain types of athletic
competition.
Medicines

For patients with mild to moderate symptoms, medicines are often the treatment
of choice.

 Beta-blockers slow the heartbeat.

 Diuretics reduce excess fluid in the body, relieving the stress on the heart's
pumping action.

 Calcium channel blockers make the muscle-stiffened heart chambers more

flexible.

 Antiarrhythmic medicines can help regulate the heartbeat.

Medicines do not work in all cases, especially in patients with more severe
symptoms. Medicines can also have side effects that may include fluid in the lungs
and low blood pressure. In some cases, certain medicines may cause sudden
death.

Surgery

Doctors may suggest surgery for HCM patients with severe heart damage.

 Surgeons may remove part of the thickened septum (the muscle wall
separating the chambers) that is blocking the blood flow. This procedure,
called the Morrow operation, eases symptoms in about 70% of patients.

 In patients who have mitral valve damage or where the septum wall is too
thin for safe removal of tissue, surgeons may replace the mitral valve.
Non-Surgical Treatment

Alcohol septal ablation is a non-surgical treatment that involves injecting alcohol

down a small branch of one of the heart's arteries and into the extra heart
muscle. The alcohol destroys the extra heart muscle without having to cut it out
surgically.

Alcohol ablation is performed in the cardiac catheterization laboratory (cath lab).

Doctors will first perform a cardiac catheterization to find the coronary artery that
supplies the thickened area of heart muscle. A special dye is injected through a
catheter to locate the exact area of thickened muscle. When the area is located,
doctors then inject tiny amounts of pure alcohol (ethanol) through the catheter.
The alcohol destroys the area of extra heart muscle, causing a "controlled" heart
attack. Over the next few months, the thickened muscle shrinks to a more normal
size, allowing more blood to flow through the heart.

Sometimes, when the alcohol destroys the heart muscle, it also injures the heart's
electrical system (which regulates the heartbeat). Doctors will insert a temporary
pacemaker to help regulate your heartbeat after the procedure. If you do not
have any heart-rhythm problems, this pacemaker is removed after 24 hours.
Patients who continue to have heart-rhythm problems will need to have a
permanent pacemaker inserted.

You can expect to stay in the hospital for 3 to 5 days after the procedure.
  Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
In the United States, restrictive cardiomyopathy is rare. It gets its name because
the condition restricts the heart from stretching properly, which limits the
amount of blood that can fill the heart's chambers.

Restrictive cardiomyopathy is the least common form of cardiomyopathy. This

condition gets its name from the way it restricts the heart from stretching
properly. While the rhythm and pumping action of the heart may be healthy, the
stiff walls of the heart chambers keep them from filling normally. So blood flow is
reduced, and blood that would normally enter the heart is backed up in the
circulatory system. In time, the heart fails.

What causes it?

Restrictive cardiomyopathy is often caused by diseases in other parts of the body.

One known cause is cardiac amyloidosis, which is sometimes associated with

cancers of the blood. Amyloidosis is a condition that causes proteins from certain
blood cells (called amyloid deposits) to build up in the heart tissue, making the
tissue stiff and thickened. Cardiac amyloidosis is also called "stiff heart
syndrome."

Another known cause is a disorder called hemochromatosis. This disorder is

passed down through family members and results in a buildup of iron in the
body.

Sarcoidosis is the name of an inflammatory disease that starts as tiny, grain-like

lumps called granulomas, which most often appear in your lungs or lymph nodes.
The granulomas can clump together and form larger lumps that attack other
organs. Sarcoidosis often affects your skin, eyes, or liver, but it can also cause
restrictive cardiomyopathy. In other cases, diseases create deposits that can make
the heart walls thick and stiff.
Another term for restrictive cardiomyopathy is infiltrative cardiomyopathy,
because it is the "infiltration" of different materials, such as the amyloids or the
granulomas, in the heart that lead to the cardiomyopathy.

Restrictive cardiomyopathy can also result from scarring of the heart, caused by a
heart attack.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms are similar to those of congestive heart failure. You may feel weak,
very tired, and short of breath. Many patients have swelling in their legs (called
edema). You may also find that you are sick to your stomach, bloated, and do not
feel like eating. These symptoms most likely result from a buildup of fluid around
your liver, stomach, and intestines. An irregular heartbeat (called an arrhythmia)
and a condition called heart block are also common in restrictive cardiomyopathy.

How is it diagnosed?

Restrictive cardiomyopathy can be mistaken for a condition called constrictive

pericarditis. This condition causes the sac-like membrane around the heart (the
pericardium) to become inflamed and thickened. Surgery can usually correct
constrictive pericarditis. On the other hand, restrictive cardiomyopathy cannot be
corrected surgically. Instead, doctors will try to control its symptoms.

Diagnostic tools include the following:

 Echocardiography can be used to show the size of your heart and how
much muscle damage there is.

 Computed tomography (CT) scanning gives slice-like pictures of your heart

that can be used to show how the heart is working.

 Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can give detailed pictures of the heart
and its various structures.
  A biopsy of tissue from the wall of your heart may help doctors find out
how seriously your heart has been damaged, or what process may be
causing the damage.

 Cardiac catheterization can show movement and force of blood through

the heart (called hemodynamic analysis).

How is it treated?

Doctors may be able to treat the condition that is causing restrictive

cardiomyopathy, but the heart problem itself generally cannot be reversed.
Doctors currently have no way of repairing severely damaged heart muscle. So
the treatment goal is mainly controlling the symptoms of restrictive
cardiomyopathy. Medicines are sometimes used to ease the heart's workload and
to keep a regular heart rhythm. When the condition becomes severe, a heart
transplant may be needed.
  Ischemic cardiomyopathy

Cardiac ischemia happens when an artery leading to the heart becomes narrowed
or blocked for a short time and oxygen-rich blood cannot reach your heart. In
most cases of ischemia, this temporary blood shortage to the heart causes pain in
the chest (called angina pectoris). In certain other cases, there is no pain (called
silent ischemia).

Ischemic cardiomyopathy is the loss or weakening of heart muscle tissue caused

by ischemia or silent ischemia. The ischemia usually results from coronary artery
disease and heart attacks. Treatment for ischemic cardiomyopathy is similar to
that for other forms of cardiomyopathy, with special attention given to treating
coronary artery disease. For patients whose hearts have been seriously damaged
by ischemic cardiomyopathy, doctors may recommend a heart transplant.
  Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD) is a rare form of

cardiomyopathy. It occurs when the heart muscle tissue in the right ventricle dies
and is replaced by scar tissue.

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD) is a rare form of

cardiomyopathy. It occurs when the heart muscle tissue in the right ventricle dies
and is replaced by fat or scar tissue. As a result, the heart cannot pump properly.
Patients with ARVD often have arrhythmias, which can increase the risk of sudden
cardiac death. ARVD usually occurs in teens and young adults. It has also been
linked to sudden cardiac death in young athletes.

What are the causes?

Doctors do not know what causes ARVD. It often runs in families, but it can occur
in people with no family history of the condition. ARVD may also be caused by
congenital conditions (those that are present at birth) and viral or inflammatory
myocarditis.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of ARVD include palpitations and fainting after physical activity,

ventricular arrhythmias, dizziness, and lightheadedness. Heart failure may also be
a symptom of ARVD.

How is it diagnosed?

 Holter monitoring gets a nonstop reading of your heart rate and rhythm
over a 24-hour period (or longer).

 Echocardiography can be used to show the size of your heart and how
much damage there is as well as showing if there is decreased heart wall
motion (called hypokinesia or hypokinesis).
  Computed tomography (CT) scanning gives slice-like pictures of your heart
that can be used to show how the heart is working.

 Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can give detailed pictures of the heart
and its various structures.

 Electrophysiology studies (EPS) are usually done in a cardiac catheterization

laboratory and help to map the electrical impulses from your heart.

How is it treated?

There is no known cure for ARVD. Instead, treatment is focused on relieving the
symptoms. You will likely be given antiarrhythmic medicines. If there is a risk for
sudden death, your doctor may recommend an implantable cardioverter
defibrillator. If you have ARVD, you will need to ask your doctor about exercising
or participating in sports.
Holter Monitoring
Holter monitoring gives doctors a constant reading of your heart rate and rhythm
over a 24-hour period (or longer). The Holter monitor can record heart rate and
rhythm when you feel chest pain or symptoms of an irregular heartbeat
(called arrhythmia). Your doctor can then look at the time when you noticed your
symptoms. Reviewing the record will give your doctor an idea about the nature of
your heart problem.

How does it work?

The Holter monitor is a recording device. The monitor is battery-powered and can
be placed in a pocket or pouch. The monitor has 5 to 7 wires called leads. The
leads attach to metal disks called electrodes, which are placed on your chest.
These electrodes are very sensitive, and they can pick up the electrical impulses of
the heart. The impulses are recorded by the Holter monitor and give your doctor
a 24-hour record of your heart's electrical activity.

What should I expect?

Holter monitoring is a painless test. You will need to go into your doctor's office to
be fitted for the monitor. It is a good idea to bathe before you go to the doctor's
office, because once you are fitted with the Holter monitor, you cannot get it wet
in the shower or bathtub.

A nurse will clean the areas with alcohol and then place the electrodes on your
chest. For men, the nurse may have to shave some small areas of your chest. The
electrodes stick to the skin with a gel. Sometimes, an electrode and lead wire will
be taped to your chest to prevent them from moving around.

You will wear the Holter monitor for at least 12 to 24 hours. While you are
wearing the monitor, you will be asked to keep a log of your daily activities: what
you did and at what time. This will help the doctor figure out what you were
doing during the times that there were abnormal readings. Otherwise, you can do
your typical activities, except those that might get the Holter monitor wet.
You will also need to avoid exposure to high-voltage devices, magnets, or metal
detectors.

After 24 hours (or more), you will go back to your doctor's office to have the
electrodes removed. This may cause some discomfort, similar to having a
bandage pulled off. The doctor will then compare your log of activities with the
recording of your heart to help analyze any irregular rhythms.

Echocardiography
Echocardiography uses sound waves to produce an image of the heart and to see
how it is functioning. Depending on the type of echocardiography test they use,
doctors can learn about the size, shape, and movement of your heart muscle, how
the heart valves are working, how blood is flowing through your heart, and how
your arteries are functioning.

One measurement that is usually taken during an echocardiogram is the

heart's ejection fraction. During the heartbeat's two-part pumping action, the
heart squeezes (contracts) and then relaxes. When your heart contracts, it pumps
(or ejects) blood out of its lower chambers, called the ventricles. When your heart
relaxes, the ventricles fill up with blood. No matter how strongly your heart
contracts, it never ejects all of the blood out of its ventricles. The ejection fraction
refers to the percentage of blood that is pumped out of the ventricle with each
heartbeat.

Because the left ventricle is the heart's main pumping chamber, doctors usually
measure the ejection fraction of the left ventricle. This is called the left ventricular
ejection fraction, or the LVEF. The LVEF for a healthy heart is between 55% and
70%. Your LVEF may be lower if your heart muscle has been damaged by a heart
attack, heart failure, or another heart problem.
How does it work?

Echocardiography uses high-frequency sound waves (also called ultrasound) that

can provide a moving picture of your heart. The sound waves are sent through the
body with a device called a transducer. The sound waves bounce off of the heart
and return to the transducer as echoes. The echoes are converted into images on
a television monitor to produce pictures of your heart in motion.

 One-dimensional or M-mode echocardiography is one beam of ultrasound

directed toward the heart. Doctors most often use M-mode
echocardiography to see just the left side (or main pumping chamber) of
your heart.

 Two-dimensional echocardiography produces a broader moving picture of

your heart. Two-dimensional echocardiography is one of the most
important diagnostic tools for doctors.

 Doppler echocardiography measures blood flowing through the arteries

and shows the pattern of flow through the heart.

What should I expect?

No special preparation is needed before you have an echocardiogram.

During the test, you will lie on an examination table. A technician will place small
metal disks called electrodes on your chest. These electrodes have wires called
leads, which hook up to an electrocardiogram machine. This machine will monitor
your heart rhythm during the test.

Next, the technician will put a thick gel on your chest. The gel may feel cold, but it
does not harm your skin. Then, the technician will use the transducer to send and
receive the sound waves.
The transducer will be placed directly on the left side of your chest, above your
heart. The technician will press firmly as he or she moves the transducer across
your chest. You may be asked to breathe in or out or to briefly hold your breath
during the test. But, for most of the test, you will lie still.

An echocardiogram may take up to 45 minutes to perform. You should not have

any pain or discomfort during the test.

Computed Tomography (CT) Scan

A CT scan ("cat scan") is an x-ray technique that uses a computer to create cross-
sectional (or slice-like) pictures of the heart.

How does it work?

The CT scanner is a large X-ray machine that has a short, open-ended tube in the
middle (like a very short tunnel). The patient lies on a scanning table, which slides
through the middle of the CT scanner. The CT scanner takes many x-ray pictures
of thin slices of your heart. A computer then puts these images together to make
one detailed picture. In some cases, a contrast dye is injected into the
bloodstream to help doctors get a clearer picture.

What should I expect?

If a contrast dye is not going to be used during your CT scan, you should not eat
for about 2 hours before the test. If a contrast dye is going to be used, you should
not eat for about 4 hours before the test. The contrast dye may cause hot flushing
in some patients.
You will be asked to undress and put on a hospital gown. Then, you will lie down
on a table, which will be slowly moved through the hollow center of the CT
scanner. You will be asked to lie still and to hold your breath briefly as each
picture is taken.

After the test, you may go about your normal activities. Some people find that
they have a bad reaction to the contrast dye, but this is rare. If this happens, you
will be treated at the hospital after your test.

CT scanning is a safe test. Although your exposure to radiation is small, you should
not have a CT scan if you are pregnant.
 Can cardiomyopathy be prevented?
Although cardiomyopathy is one of the less frequent forms of heart disease, it's
still important to be aware of the role heredity plays in the disease and to be
familiar with its symptoms.

Check your family's medical history to learn if you are at risk. Even if nobody in
your family has cardiomyopathy, you need to know the warning signs:

 unexplained shortness of breath

 bloating
 fainting
 chest pains

If you have any of these symptoms, see your doctor. Also, because drinking too
much alcohol, eating foods without the proper vitamins, and exposure to toxins
can all cause cardiomyopathy, you can lower your risk by living a heart-healthy
lifestyle.