Definition

Cardiomyopathy is a type of heart disease. The damaged heart does not pump blood correctly. The disease usually progresses, and people develop life-threatening heart failure. People with cardiomyopathy are also more likely to have irregular heartbeats or arrhythmias.

There are two categories of cardiomyopathy: ischemic and non-ischemic. Ischemic cardiomyopathy is most common. It occurs when the heart is damaged from heart attacks due to coronary artery disease. Non-ischemic cardiomyopathy is less common. It includes types of cardiomyopathy that are not related to coronary artery disease.

There are three main types of non-ischemic cardiomyopathy:

• Dilated—Damaged heart muscles lead to an enlarged, floppy heart. The heart stretches as it tries to make up for a weakened ability to pump.
• Hypertrophic—Heart muscle fibers enlarge abnormally. The heart does not relax correctly between beats. The heart wall thickens, leaving less space for blood to fill the chambers, so less blood is pumped from the heart.
• Restrictive—Parts of the heart wall stiffen. Thickening often occurs due to abnormal tissue invading the heart.

Normal Heart and Heart With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

Causes

In many cases, the exact cause is not known. Possible causes include:

Risk Factors

Factors that increase your chance of getting cardiomyopathy include:

• Family members with cardiomyopathy
• Alcohol use disorder
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• CAD
• Certain drugs

Symptoms

Symptoms vary depending on the type of cardiomyopathy and its severity.

Cardiomyopathy leads to heart failure and the following symptoms:

• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Shortness of breath, often worse when lying down or with activity
• Cough
• Swelling in feet or legs
• Chest pain
• Irregular heart rhythm

Diagnosis

You will be asked about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. A stethoscope will be used to listen to your heart. Cardiomyopathies often produce heart murmurs and other abnormal sounds.

Images of your chest may be needed. This can be done with:

• Chest x-ray
• Echocardiogram

Tests may be done to determine how your heart functions. These can be done with:

• Electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Cardiac catheterization

Your bodily fluids and tissue may need to be tested. This can be done with:

• Blood tests
• Heart biopsy

Treatment

Heart failure may be due to blockages in the arteries. Treatments to relieve these blockages include angioplasty, stent placement, and coronary artery bypass surgery. These may lead to improved heart function and symptoms. For certain genetic causes, other treatments may also improve heart function. For many people, treatment is aimed at relieving symptoms and preventing further damage.

Prevention

Actively treat hypertension, coronary artery diseases, and their risk factors. This is the best way to prevent most cases of cardiomyopathy. However, other less common causes are not preventable. If you have a family history of the disease, ask your doctor about screening tests. Do this especially before starting an intense exercise program.