In archaic medical terms what would alcohol induced cardiomyopathy have been called?
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silky1 (
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September 21st, 2010
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6 Answers
How archaic?
I think the knowledge of cardiomyopathy even existing is new enough that there really isn’t an old term for it.
My guess is “struck dead”, as the often-times result is an embolism.
I think cardiomyopathy weakens and fatigues as well as causing shortness of breath. So I think it would have just been called a weak heart, a failing heart. Cardiopathy is roughly just an enlarged heart with weak muscle action.
“Swelling of the heart,” is my bid. Possibly tied to magnanimity, though probably not linked with alcohol consumption until around the 18th or 1th century.
Peripheral edema due to congestive heart failure, which could result from cardiomyopathy, was called “dropsy.”
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