Cardiomyopathy is a rare heart muscle disease over
the world, but not in Africa where it is one of the major causes
of heart failure, according to experts that reviewed all available
cardiomyopathy studies performed in Africa, along with all the information
about the causes and types of heart muscle disease in Africa, where
10 per cent of the world’s population lives.
A 10 per cent to 17 per cent of cardiac problems
found through autopsies in South Africa and Uganda, and 17 per cent
to 48 per cent of heart failure diagnoses in many parts of Africa
are due to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), which is an enlargement
of the entire heart, explain researchers.
In the United States, 4 to 8 per 100,000 people
are affected by DCM, but African overall incidence is unknown, because
the corresponding studies have not been made yet.
Researchers’ findings show that Peripartum cardiomyopathy
has a very high incidence throughout Africa and Nigeria. This illness
can cause heart failure and it develops between the last month of
pregnancy and the first five months after childbirth.
Peripartum cardiomyopathy incidence in the US is 1 in 15,000 deliveries;
meanwhile the incidence in South Africa is 1 in 1,000 cases.
DCM is caused by various factors, under generally
accepted African theory. These include untreated high blood pressure,
infective and toxic agents, inappropriate immunologic reactions,
nutritional deficiencies, and genetic factors.
According to experts, it is important to do more
research to understand the underlying reasons for Africa’s high
cardiomyopathy rate, and prevent or reduce it.
Article written by Hector Milla, editor of http://www.heartdiseasesympton.com
a website about heart
disease symptoms .You may see a full list of 100 heart diseases
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Heart Diseases: Statistical Comparison between US and Africa