Cardiomyopathy What Is Cardiomyopathy?

Cardiomyopathy is a disease that weakens the heart muscle. This makes it harder for your heart to pump blood. The word "cardiomyopathy" means "heart muscle disease."

Learn more about how the heart works

Cardiomyopathy can affect people of any sex, race, or age. There are several types of cardiomyopathy and many causes and risk factors. Young adults, even athletes, are at risk for a type of cardiomyopathy called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Peripartum cardiomyopathy affects some women, before, during, or soon after pregnancy. Newborns and children can have cardiomyopathy.

Depending on the type of cardiomyopathy that you have, your heart muscle may become thicker, stiffer, or larger than normal. These changes weaken the heart and may cause an irregular heartbeat, heart failure, or a life-threatening event such as cardiac arrest or cardiogenic shock.

Cardiomyopathy may be caused by your

genes

gene

(jeen):

The unit that passes heredity from parents to children. Genes are pieces of DNA and contain information for making a specific protein.

, other medical conditions, unhealthy lifestyle factors, or extreme stress. However, many times, the cause of cardiomyopathy is not known.

People with cardiomyopathy may have shortness of breath,

fatigue

fatigue

(fuh-TEEG):

A condition following a period of mental or physical activity that is marked by extreme tiredness or weariness and inability to function due to lack of energy. Fatigue may be acute or chronic.

, dizziness and fainting, swelling in the ankles or legs, or chest pain as the disease gets worse. Your healthcare provider will ask about your

symptoms

symptom

(SIMP-tum):

A problem that a patient experiences that may indicate disease but cannot be seen and does not show up on medical tests or procedures; some examples include headache, fatigue, nausea, or pain.

and order tests to diagnose cardiomyopathy. Echocardiography is the most common test.

Genetic

Genetic

(jeh-NEH-tik):

Having to do with genes. Most genes are sequences of DNA that contain information for making specific proteins or molecules of RNA that perform important functions in a cell. The information in genes is passed from parents to children.

tests may identify the cause of your cardiomyopathy and help assess the risk of cardiomyopathy in blood relatives.

Some people have no cardiomyopathy symptoms and may not need treatment. Even so, some providers may recommend treatment to prevent progression of the disease.

Cardiomyopathy treatments include medicines, procedures, healthy lifestyle changes, implanted devices, and therapy to lower stress. Treatments may not fix the problem with your heart, but they may lower symptoms, prevent the disease from getting worse, and reduce the chance of sudden death. Talk with your provider to set up a treatment plan to improve your quality of life.

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