Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy is a disease that affects the heart muscle and the way it pumps. It may occur as a result of damage to the heart, such as from a heart attack, or a person may inherit the tendency to develop cardiomyopathy.
- In dilated cardiomyopathy, the chambers of the heart enlarge and weaken.
- In restrictive cardiomyopathy, the heart muscle gets stiff.
- In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the heart muscle thickens and cannot relax properly.
When the heart muscle is not pumping normally, the rest of the body may not get enough blood, oxygen, or nutrients (heart failure). These changes in the heart muscle can lead to atrial fibrillation (a type of arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat) or to other heart problems.
Treatment for cardiomyopathy depends on the type of heart problems that occur as a result of the changes in the heart muscle.
| Author | Jeannette Curtis |
| Author | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Tracy Landauer |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Last Updated | May 25, 2007 |
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Last Updated:
May 25, 2007
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