Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy (kahr-dee-o-my-OP-uh-thee) is a disease of the heart muscle that makes it harder for your heart to pump blood to the rest of your body. Cardiomyopathy can lead to heart failure.
The main types of cardiomyopathy include dilated, hypertrophic and restrictive cardiomyopathy. Treatment — which might include medications, surgically implanted devices or, in severe cases, a heart transplant — depends on which type of cardiomyopathy you have and how serious it is.
Types
- Dilated cardiomyopathy — the most common type, where the heart's main pumping chamber becomes enlarged and weakened
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy — involves abnormal thickening of the heart muscle, often inherited
- Restrictive cardiomyopathy — the heart muscle becomes rigid and less elastic
- Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia — a rare type that can cause sudden cardiac death in young people
Symptoms
- Breathlessness with exertion or even at rest
- Swelling of the legs, ankles and feet
- Bloating of the abdomen due to fluid buildup
- Cough while lying down
- Fatigue
- Irregular heartbeats that feel rapid, pounding or fluttering
- Dizziness, lightheadedness and fainting
Treatment
Treatment depends on the type of cardiomyopathy and may include lifestyle changes, medications, surgically implanted devices such as pacemakers or defibrillators, or heart transplant in severe cases.
Back to Medical Terms Glossary
We Offer Same Day Appointments!
407-645-1847