Can patients with dilated cardiomyopathy eat sea cucumber?

Written by Di Zhi Yong
Cardiology
Updated on May 29, 2025
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In general, if a patient is diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, it is advised that the patient actively treats and controls the symptoms, as this disease tends to recur. If the patient's cardiac function declines, sometimes it may be necessary to use some anti-myocardial drugs to treat this disease. In terms of diet, it is generally recommended that the patient follows a light diet, especially avoiding spicy and stimulating foods.

As for sea cucumber, I personally recommend eating it sparingly, as sometimes it can have certain impacts on the human body. It is still advisable to adhere to a light diet, focusing on eating more vegetables and fruits, while also educating patients to improve symptoms through dietary exercise.

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Clinical manifestations of dilated cardiomyopathy

The clinical manifestations of dilated cardiomyopathy can be summarized in two words: "three hearts," which are reflected in the following three aspects. First, heart enlargement, such as through chest X-rays or echocardiography, often reveals a notable enlargement of the patient's heart. Second, arrhythmias; dilated cardiomyopathy often accompanies a variety of arrhythmias, such as frequent ventricular premature beats, tachycardia, or atrial fibrillation. Third, heart failure. Dilated cardiomyopathy often results in symptoms of heart failure, such as exertional dyspnea and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea.

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What should be noted for dilated cardiomyopathy?

Patients with dilated cardiomyopathy should actively look for the cause of the disease and provide corresponding treatments, such as controlling infections, strictly limiting or abstaining from alcohol, treating relevant endocrine or autoimmune diseases, correcting electrolyte disorders, and improving nutritional imbalances, etc. In the early stages of dilated cardiomyopathy, although there is already enlargement of the heart and impairment of contractile function, there are no clinical manifestations of heart failure. At this stage, early pharmacological intervention should be actively implemented to slow down ventricular remodeling and further damage to the myocardium, delaying the progression of the disease. As the condition progresses, the patient's ventricular contractile function further decreases and clinical manifestations of heart failure appear. At this point, treatment should follow the guidelines for chronic heart failure. However, the specifics of the treatment and the choice of medication should be determined by a specialist based on the patient’s condition.

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What causes cardiomyopathy?

In clinical practice, the most common type of myocarditis is viral myocarditis. Due to a decrease in the body's resistance, the virus invades and damages the myocardium, causing localized and diffuse inflammatory damage to the heart muscle, which poses significant harm to the body. The early clinical symptoms of viral myocarditis often manifest primarily as respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms, accompanied by palpitations and shortness of breath, necessitating the use of electrocardiograms and myocardial enzyme spectrum tests. Early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of viral myocarditis play a crucial role in the prognosis.

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Late-stage symptoms of dilated cardiomyopathy

The so-called advanced stage refers to a phase where cardiac function has reached stage four. The common clinical manifestations of this stage are primarily those of heart failure, such as chest tightness and shortness of breath after activity, inability to lie flat at night, general edema, and even accumulation of fluid in the chest and abdominal cavity. Some patients with severe edema might experience abdominal distension, poor appetite, and even malnutrition, which are all manifestations of heart failure. Once cardiac function reaches stage four, patients with dilated cardiomyopathy are highly susceptible to malignant arrhythmias, such as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. These types of arrhythmias are a common cause of death in the late stages of dilated cardiomyopathy. Therefore, proactive prevention is crucial for these patients as they have a very poor prognosis, and it is essential to maintain active communication with their families.

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The difference between dilated cardiomyopathy and restrictive cardiomyopathy

The differences between dilated cardiomyopathy and restrictive cardiomyopathy mainly consist of the following two aspects: First, the anatomical differences: dilated cardiomyopathy is characterized by an enlargement of the heart, especially the left ventricle. Whereas restrictive cardiomyopathy is characterized by anatomical features such as narrowed or reduced heart cavities and limited ventricular filling. Second, the differences in symptoms: the symptoms of dilated cardiomyopathy are mainly characterized by those of left heart failure, such as exertional dyspnea, nocturnal paroxysmal dyspnea, and orthopnea. The main symptoms of restrictive cardiomyopathy, however, are manifestations of right heart failure, which commonly include nausea, abdominal distension, and peripheral edema.