Alcoholic cardiomyopathy (could Cheney really have been sloshed?)

[Atman]

Cheney has top docs with him at all times. He is almost literally at death's door. I find it hard to believe that he would be allowed to have alcohol anywhere near him.

This article is interesting in that it explains several things about Cheney. Remember his problem with swollen feet a while back? Check it out...

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Alternative names
Cardiomyopathy - alcoholic

Definition

Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is a disorder in which excessive, habitual use of alcohol weakens the heart muscle. The heart cannot pump blood efficiently, and this in turn affects the lungs, liver, brain, and other body systems.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Drinking alcohol in large quantities has a directly toxic effect on heart muscle cells. Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is a form of dilated cardiomyopathy caused by habitual alcohol abuse.

Alcoholic cardiomyopathy causes the weakened heart muscle to pump inefficiently, leading to heart failure. Lack of blood flow affects all parts of the body, resulting in damage to multiple tissues and organ systems.

The disorder is most commonly seen in males ages 35-55 years old, but it may develop in anyone who consumes too much alcohol over a long period of time. Alcoholic cardiomyopathy may be identified as "idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy" if the person's drinking history is not known.

Symptoms

Symptoms are usually absent until the disease is in an advanced stage. At that point, the symptoms occur because of heart failure.

Possible symptoms include:

* Ankle, feet, and leg swelling
* Overall swelling
* Loss of appetite
* Shortness of breath, especially with activity
* Breathing difficulty while lying down
* Fatigue, weakness, faintness
* Decreased alertness or concentration
* Cough containing mucus, or pink, frothy material
* Decreased urine output (oliguria)
* Need to urinate at night (nocturia)
* Sensation of feeling the heart beat (palpitations)
* Irregular or rapid pulse

More at link... http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000174.htm

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And some more from the Mayo Clinic...



Treatment of Cardiomyopathy at Mayo Clinic

Cardiomyopathy, weakness of the heart muscle, is categorized by its cause or by the pumping defect that is present. For example, cardiomyopathy caused by alcohol abuse is called alcoholic cardiomyopathy. In many cases, the cause of cardiomyopathy cannot be determined, and the condition is then referred to as idiopathic cardiomyopathy.

There are three basic types of cardiomyopathy.

* Dilated cardiomyopathy -- The heart muscle weakens and the heart chambers are enlarged (dilated).
* Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy -- Portions of the heart muscle are much thicker than normal. This condition is also sometimes called Brock's disease or Teare's disease.
* Restrictive cardiomyopathy -- The heart muscle becomes stiff and cannot fill efficiently during diastole (the period of the heartbeat when the chambers fill with blood).

The outlook for people with cardiomyopathy varies greatly. Some people remain symptom-free and lead a normal life. For many, the disease evolves slowly, progressively limiting lifestyle. In some instances, symptoms can appear suddenly after a respiratory or flulike illness.

More at link -- http://www.mayoclinic.org/cardiomyopathy/

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[Toots]

1. Do you think a man that sickly uses any drugs at all?

If under the influence of such a drug would it be wise to go out shooting? :shrug: just saying....

[Atman]

2. I don't. But I keep getting the DU Smackdown if I dare mention it

He has doctors, you know. Not like yours and mine, they're with him all the time. He doesn't prepare his own food or beverages, either; he has cooks and medics and attendants 24/7. He is second-in-command (some say first) in the entire United States Government. I'd be stunned if they allowed him to drink at all, even if he were stupid enough to want to, with that worthless ticker of his.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

6. You have his med charts? This is what he was diagnosed with?

If you don't, then you're speculating. Ironic, since it's the same thing we're doing when we bring up the "he was probably drinking" theory.

None of us knows for sure, we're just having fun theorizing. It's what we do here.

[Jacobin]

3. A friend of mine has had TWO bypass operations

He stays sloshed most of the time, against his doctors orders.

[Atman]

4. This isn't a "bypass."

Read the posts. This is a very serious condition he's got, CAUSED by alcohol abuse. I just don't think this man has a death wish...he is a megalomaniac, and I doubt he fancies himself dead.

[Dogmudgeon]

5. Please keep something in mind ---

-- most cardiomyopathies can't be readily distinguished without lots of tests and a complete medical history. Alcoholism isn't the only cause of cardiomyopathy; in fact, it usually takes high alcohol intake over a long period of time to contribute to it.

Cheney smoked heavily and had severe high blood pressure for years. The alcoholism would be a contributing factor if, indeed, he was/is an alcoholic.

--p!

[Viva_La_Revolution]

8. And my Fristonian diagnosis also says he has Gout...

When he was walking funny, you could tell it was one foot that was bothering him, not both.

[Dogmudgeon]

9. Oh -- practicing Fristonian medicine!

In that case, carry on -- and keep that Magic 8-Ball close at hand!

:evilgrin:

--p!

[Crunchy Frog]

7. I think the swelling in his feet was gout.

But that can also be brought on by alcohol use.

He does have a history of DUI's