Andy Hallett, an actor best known for his role as Lorn, a demonic bartender/karaoke singer on the vampire TV show Angel, died yesterday at the age of 33 from congestive heart failure. Congestive heart failure occurs when the heart loses its ability to efficiently pump blood around the body, causing fluid to collect in the lungs and other tissues (“congestion”). Symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, swollen legs, cough and decreased appetite. In Andy Hallett’s case, his heart failure was due to a condition called cardiomyopathy which he developed from an infection following a dental procedure about 5 years ago. Cardiomyopathy is a condition in which the heart muscle becomes weakened and enlarged and cannot pump blood efficiently. Treatment is varies depending on how well the heart is functioning. Some people do not require any treatment, others need drug treatment, and still others may require a heart transplant.

General Information

www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4468

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiomyopathy

www.cardiomyopathy.org/
www.nlm.nih.gov/MEDLINEPLUS/ency/article/001105.htm
www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/cm/cm_what.html

Treatment
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/cm/cm_treatments.html
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/MEDLINEPLUS/ency/article/001105.htm#Treatment