ATTR-CM can be a life-changing diagnosis. Although its symptoms are not always strong at first, ATTR-CM is considered a progressive disease, one that generally gets worse over time, often leading to heart failure and atrial fibrillation. The hallmark symptoms include:
- Shortness of breath
- Bloated stomach
- Confusion
- Coughing or wheezing
- Fatigue
- Heart palpitations
ATTR-CM can also lead to other conditions, such as carpal tunnel syndrome and neuropathy.
These symptoms may affect your quality of life, says Ronald Witteles, MD, a cardiologist and professor of medicine at Stanford Medicine in California. You may see reductions in mobility, exercise capacity, and independence.
Sleep problems and mental health challenges are also common in people with the condition, and it may become increasingly difficult to participate in the hobbies and activities you enjoy. You may come to rely more and more on your friends and family.
Early diagnosis and treatment, however, are key to preserving your quality of life. In addition to using medications, your doctors may ask you to make changes to your diet and exercise habits. Your treatment may vary based on whether your ATTR-CM is hereditary, which means it runs in your family, or wild-type, which is more common in older adults.
If heart failure is already present and ATTR-CM is untreated, life expectancy is two and a half to three and a half years. But the five-year survival rate if you are diagnosed at an earlier stage, before heart failure symptoms, is 82 percent.
And the availability of new treatments may help extend life expectancy considerably.
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