Heart Disease: Heart Muscle Disease (Cardiomyopathy)

Cardiomyopathy, or heart muscle disease, is a type of progressive heart disease in which the heart is abnormally enlarged, thickened and/or stiffened. As a result, the heart muscle's ability to pump blood is weakened, often causing heart failure and the backup of blood into the lungs or rest of the body. The disease can also cause abnormal heart rhythms.

Usually, the condition begins in the heart's lower chambers (the ventricles), but in severe cases can affect the upper chambers or atria as well.

There are three main types of cardiomyopathy:

• Dilated cardiomyopathy
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
• Restrictive cardiomyopathy

Reviewed by the doctors at The Cleveland Clinic Heart Center.