More on Randy Travis’ condition

Fifty four year old grammy award-winning singer Randy Travis remains in critical condition in a Texas hospital with heart problems. The country singer suffers from viral cardiomyopathy.

“Cardiomyopethy is the weakening of the heart muscle. Normal heart strength is about 60 percent, and when it drops below 30 percent, we consider that to be cardiomyopethy,” Eisenhower Medical Center’s Dr. Leon Feldman said.

Travis had a pumping device implanted in his heart before transferring hospitals.

“Often what patients experience is weakness of the heart muscle which produces breathlessness or fluid retention or inability to exercise,” Feldman said.

Doctors say the star was in good health until three weeks before he was hospitalized. Travis’ sister in law gave a statement saying heart problems run in his family.

“One of the causes is familial or genetic.There are probably a variety of genetic disorders that can be transmitted from parents or relative and come through and causes weakening of muscle fibers and of the strength of the heart,” Feldman said.

Cardiomyopathy can lead to heart failure, but not always.

“Often people get better. It can take weeks or months on good medical therapy and the heart can strengthen. There can be dramatic improvements,” Feldman said.

The singer is best known for hits “Forever and Ever, Amen” and “Three Wooden Crosses.” Travis thanked fans in the news release “for their love and support during this time.”