What is a cardiomyopathy?

The term cardiomyopathy literally means “abnormal heart muscle.” This refers to the abnormal function of the heart itself and does not refer to the effect on the body or any symptoms.

Most patients who have symptoms of heart failure indeed have some type of cardiomyopathy. Their heart muscle has weakened and the heart has become dilated. The weakened heart muscle cannot pump blood efficiently and becomes tired easily.

In patients who have a cardiomyopathy, their weakened heart is pumping less blood with each contraction, so fluid backs up into the lungs. Also, less blood is pumped to the kidneys. The kidneys are the organs that regulate electrolytes and fluids in the body and help the body get rid of extra fluid. As a result, the body will have a tendency to become congested with fluid, which is why this condition may lead to symptoms known as “congestive heart failure.”

There are several different causes of a cardiomyopathy. The most common cause is coronary artery disease (blocked arteries of the heart). This is known as an ischemic cardiomyopathy. All other cardiomyopathies are referred to as nonischemic. A nonischemic cardiomyopathy can be due to infections or viruses, alcohol abuse, high blood pressure, heart valve problems, or the toxic effects of certain drugs (such as certain cancer medications). A cardiomyopathy can also be inherited or may be due to congenital heart problems that were present at birth. Some patients may have developed an “idiopathic” cardiomyopathy, which means that the cause is unknown.