Because the heart can't pump effectively, blood clots might form in the heart. Untreated, heart failure can be life-threatening. The heart can't pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. This forces the heart to work harder to pump blood to the rest of the body.Ĭardiomyopathy can lead to serious complications, including: If the heart weakens, as it can with heart failure, it begins to enlarge. Storage of excess iron in the body (hemochromatosis).Many diseases also raise your risk of cardiomyopathy, including: Treatment with certain chemotherapy drugs and radiation for cancer.Illicit drug use, such as cocaine, amphetamines and anabolic steroids.Obesity, which makes the heart work harder.Conditions that affect the heart, including a past heart attack, coronary artery disease or an infection in the heart (ischemic cardiomyopathy).Family history of cardiomyopathy, heart failure and sudden cardiac arrest.There are a number of things that can increase your risk of cardiomyopathy, including: Other types of cardiomyopathy fall into this category. In this rare type of cardiomyopathy, the muscle in the lower right heart chamber (right ventricle) is replaced by scar tissue, which can lead to heart rhythm problems. Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia.Restrictive cardiomyopathy can occur for no known reason (idiopathic), or it can by caused by a disease elsewhere in the body that affects the heart, such as amyloidosis. This least common type of cardiomyopathy can occur at any age, but it most often affects older people. In this type, the heart muscle becomes stiff and less flexible, so it can't expand and fill with blood between heartbeats. Some genetic changes have been linked to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Most people with this type of cardiomyopathy have a family history of the disease. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can develop at any age, but the condition tends to be more severe if it occurs during childhood. It mostly affects the muscle of the heart's main pumping chamber (left ventricle). This type involves abnormal thickening of the heart muscle, which makes it harder for the heart to work. However, it can also be caused by genetic changes. The most common cause is coronary artery disease or heart attack. In this type of cardiomyopathy, the heart's main pumping chamber - the left ventricle - becomes enlarged (dilated) and can't effectively pump blood out of the heart.Īlthough this type can affect people of all ages, it occurs most often in middle-aged people and is more likely to affect men. Use of some chemotherapy drugs and radiation to treat cancerĭilated cardiomyopathy.Use of cocaine, amphetamines or anabolic steroids.Drinking too much alcohol over many years.The buildup of abnormal proteins in the organs (amyloidosis).The growth of tiny lumps of inflammatory cells (granulomas) in any part of the body, including the heart and lungs (sarcoidosis).Iron buildup in the heart muscle (hemochromatosis).Lack of essential vitamins or minerals in the diet, such as thiamin (vitamin B-1).Metabolic disorders, such as obesity, thyroid disease or diabetes.Certain infections, especially those that cause inflammation of the heart.Heart tissue damage from a heart attack.In some people, however, it's the result of another condition (acquired) or passed on from a parent (inherited).Ĭertain health conditions or behaviors that can lead to acquired cardiomyopathy include: Often the cause of the cardiomyopathy is unknown. Note that the heart walls (muscles) are much thicker (hypertrophied) in the heart with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Illustrations of a regular heart (left) and a heart with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. If you have the condition, your health care provider might recommend that your family members be checked. Some types of cardiomyopathy can be passed down through families (inherited). Call 911 or your local emergency number if you have severe difficulty breathing, fainting or chest pain that lasts for more than a few minutes.

See your health care provider if you have one or more signs or symptoms associated with cardiomyopathy. In some people, the condition worsens quickly in others, it might not worsen for a long time. Signs and symptoms tend to get worse unless treated. Dizziness, lightheadedness and fainting.Heartbeats that feel rapid, pounding or fluttering.Bloating of the abdomen due to fluid buildup.Breathlessness with activity or even at rest.But as the condition advances, signs and symptoms usually appear, including: There might be no signs or symptoms in the early stages of cardiomyopathy.

Muscles all or none principle