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Cardiomyopathy
DefinitionCardiomyopathy is a weakening of the heart muscle (myocardium), which usually causes inadequate heart pumping.
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Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
Cardiomyopathy can be caused by viral infections; heart attacks; alcoholism; long-term, severe high blood pressure; or for other reasons not yet known.
Specific types of cardiomyopathy include:
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Ischemic cardiomyopathy: This is caused by heart attacks, which leave scars in the heart muscle (myocardium). The affected myocardium is then unable to contribute to the heart pumping function. The larger the scars (or the more numerous the heart attacks), the higher the chance there is of developing ischemic cardiomyopathy.
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Idiopathic cardiomyopathy: The term "idiopathic" means that the cause is unknown. Usually, this term refers to dilated cardiomyopathy.
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Dilated cardiomyopathy: This is a global, usually idiopathic myocardial disorder characterized by a marked enlargement and inadequate function of the left ventricle. It may affect young people.
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Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: This is a disproportionate growth of the left ventricle muscle. Sometimes, the right ventricle is also affected. In up to 70% of cases, there is a family history of this condition.
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Alcoholic cardiomyopathy: This is a type of dilated cardiomyopathy that usually begins about 10 years after sustained, heavy alcohol consumption. It can occur with both typical signs of heart failure, as well as with atrial fibrillation or other heart rhythm problems.
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Peripartum cardiomyopathy: This is a dilated cardiomyopathy appearing in women during the last trimester of pregnancy, or after childbirth.
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Restrictive cardiomyopathy: This is a disorder affecting the diastolic (when the heart muscle is relaxing between contractions) function of the heart. The heart cannot relax adequately after each contraction (systole), and thus it cannot be adequately filled with blood. Examples of restrictive cardiomyopathy are amyloidosis and sarcoidosis.
Cardiomyopathy is not common, but can be severely disabling or fatal. Extreme cardiomyopathy with heart failure may require a heart transplant.
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Jump to another section
• Definition
• Cardiomyopathy Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
• Cardiomyopathy Symptoms & Signs
• Cardiomyopathy Diagnosis & Tests
• Cardiomyopathy Treatment
• Cardiomyopathy Prognosis
• Cardiomyopathy Complications
• Calling Your Health Care Provider
• Pictures & Images
Topics that might be of interest to you Diseases & Conditions
• Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy
• Arrhythmias
• Dilated Cardiomyopathy
• Dilated Cardiomyopathy
• Heart Attack
• Heart Failure
• Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
• Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
• Peripartum Cardiomyopathy
• Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
Tests & Exams
• CBC
• CHEM-20
• Chest MRI
• Chest X-Ray
• Coronary Angiography
• Coronary Risk Profile
• CPK Isoenzymes
• ECG
• LDH Isoenzymes
• Myocardial Biopsy
• Thoracic CT
Surgery & Procedures
• Heart Transplant
Other Topics
• Abdomen - Swollen
• Appetite - Decreased
• Breath Sounds
• Breathing Difficulty
• Chest Pain
• Chronic
• Confusion
• Consciousness - Decreased
• Cough
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Fatigue
• Foot, Leg, and Ankle Swelling
• Heart Murmurs and Other Sounds
• Heartbeat Sensations
• High Blood Pressure
• Urination - Excessive at Night
• Urine Output - Decreased
Review Date : 5/25/2002
Reviewed By : Seth Keller, M.D., Division of Cardiology, Yale New Haven Medical Center, New Haven, CT. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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