Cardiomyopathy Overview
Cardiomyopathy means “disease of the heart muscle.” In cardiomyopathy, the damaged heart muscle becomes enlarged, thick, or rigid, and cannot pump blood effectively.
Many people live with cardiomyopathy, unaware that they have the condition. It is the leading cause of heart failure and the most common reason for needing a heart transplant.
Unlike other heart problems, it frequently affects younger people.
Types of cardiomyopathy
| Dilated cardiomyopathy |
- Most common form
- Damaged heart muscles lead to an enlarged and floppy heart
- Heart stretches as it tries to compensate for weakened pumping action
- Often produces signs of congestive heart failure, such as breathlessness and fluid retention
- Can lead to the formation of clots
- Rarely, can occur after pregnancy, this is known as peripartum cardiomyopathy
|
| Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) |
- Second most common form
- Causes heart wall to thicken, leaving less space for blood in the chambers and making the heart work harder to pump blood out
- Most often inherited
- Can affect people of all ages
|
| Restrictive cardiomyopathy |
- Causes portions of the heart wall to become rigid and lose flexibility
- Heart chambers are unable to fill with blood properly because of stiffness in the heart
|
About the UPMC Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center
At UPMC's Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) Center, people with HCM have access to:
- Coordinated, state-of-the-art care for the diagnosis and treatment of this complex heart disease.
- Innovative treatment options based on the latest research protocols for HCM.
- A team of experts in HCM disease management, advanced cardiac imaging, and cardiovascular genetics.
Diagnosing Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy can be acquired or inherited.
Cardiomyopathy risk factors include:
- A family history of cardiomyopathy
- Heart failure
- Sudden cardiac arrest
- Coronary artery disease
- Viral infection
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- Alcoholism or drug abuse
- Certain chemotherapy medicines
- Conditions that can damage the heart, such as:
- Hemochromatosis
- Sarcoidosis
- Amyloidosis
Cardiomyopathy symptoms
Cardiomyopathy symptoms are associated with heart failure or arrhythmia, and may include:
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
If you have such symptoms and are at risk for cardiomyopathy, see your doctor for a physical exam.
Testing for cardiomyopathy
Following your exam, your doctor may order additional tests and procedures to check your heart's function, such as:
Testing results
Your doctor or nurse will tell you when to expect your test results and will call you when they're available.
Cardiomyopathy Treatment
The overall goals of cardiomyopathy treatment are to:
- Manage your symptoms
- Prevent the disease from worsening
- Reduce the risk of complications
Treatment depends on the type of cardiomyopathy you have and the seriousness of your condition.
Treatments can range from:
|
Lifestyle changes |
- Stopping alcohol use
- Monitoring salt intake
|
|
Medicines |
- Lower blood pressure
- Help your heart pump
- Reduce excess fluid
|
|
Surgically implanted devices |
- Help maintain proper heart rhythm
|
|
Ablation procedure |
- Removes extra heart tissue to reduce thickening
- Helps heart perform
|
|
Heart transplant |
- For a severely damaged heart
|
Learn more about heart and vascular treatments at UPMC.
Request an appointment today.