The Academy is partnering with the Children’s Cardiomyopathy Foundation (CCF) for Children’s Cardiomyopathy Awareness Month. Following are five facts about the disease:
1. Cardiomyopathy is a chronic disease of the heart muscle that affects the heart’s ability to pump blood.
2. Cardiomyopathy is a leading cause of sudden cardiac arrest in young people and can affect any child.
3. Cardiomyopathy remains the leading cause of heart transplants in children older than 1 year of age.
4. There is no cure for the disease.
5. Cardiomyopathy can be inherited or acquired through a viral infection or cancer chemotherapy. Knowing your family history can help prevent premature death.
Pediatricians can share information via Twitter by urging families to #KnowYourHeart. For more information, visit www.childrenscardiomyopathy.org, call the CCF at 866-808-2873 or email [email protected].