Cardiomyopathy is disease in which the heart muscle becomes weakened, stretched, or has another structural problem.

Dilated cardiomyopathy is a condition in which the heart muscle becomes weakened and enlarged. As a result, the heart cannot pump enough blood to the rest of the body.

There are many types of cardiomyopathy. Dilated cardiomyopathy is the most common form, but it may be the result of different underlying conditions. Some health care providers use the term to indicate a specific condition, called idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. There is no known cause for this type of dilated cardiomyopathy.

Cardiomyopathy - dilated; Primary cardiomyopathy; Diabetic cardiomyopathy; Idiopathic cardiomyopathy; Alcoholic cardiomyopathy

The most common causes of dilated cardiomyopathy are:

• Heart disease caused by a narrowing or blockage in the coronary arteries
• Poorly controlled high blood pressure

There are many other causes of dilated cardiomyopathy, including:

• Alcohol or cocaine (or other illegal drug) use (usually heavy use for a prolonged time)
• Diabetes, thyroid disease, or hepatitis
• Medicines that can be toxic to the heart, such as certain medicines used to treat cancer
• Abnormal heart rhythms in which the heart beats very fast for a long period of time
• Autoimmune illnesses
• Conditions that run in families
• Infections that involve the heart muscle
• Heart valves that are either too narrow or too leaky
• During the last month of pregnancy, or within 5 months after the baby is born
• Exposure to heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, cobalt, or mercury

This condition can affect anyone at any age. However, it is most common in adult men.

Symptoms of heart failure are most common. They most often develop slowly over time. However, sometimes symptoms start very suddenly and may be severe.

Common symptoms are:

• Chest pain or pressure (more likely with exercise)
• Cough
• Fatigue, weakness, faintness
• Irregular or rapid pulse
• Loss of appetite
• Shortness of breath with activity or after lying down (or being asleep) for a while
• Swelling of feet and ankles

Things you can do at home to take care of your condition include:

• Know your body, and watch for symptoms that your heart failure is getting worse.
• Watch for changes in your symptoms, heart rate, pulse, blood pressure, and weight.
• Limit how much fluid you drink and how much salt (sodium) you get in your diet (check with your provider about these).

Most people who have heart failure need to take medicines. Some medicines treat your symptoms. Others may help prevent your heart failure from becoming worse, or may prevent other heart problems.

Procedures and surgeries you may need include:

• A pacemaker to help treat slow heart rates or help your heartbeat stay in sync
• A defibrillator that recognizes life-threatening heart rhythms and sends an electrical pulse (shock) to stop them
• Heart bypass (CABG) surgery or angioplasty to improve blood flow to the damaged or weakened heart muscle
• Valve replacement or repair

For advanced cardiomyopathy:

• A heart transplant may be recommended if standard treatments have not worked and heart failure symptoms are very severe.
• Placement of a ventricular assist device or artificial heart may be considered.

Chronic heart failure becomes worse over time. Many people who have heart failure will die from the condition. Thinking about the type of care you may want at the end of life and discussing these issues with loved ones and your health care provider is important.

Heart failure is most often a chronic illness, which may get worse over time. Some people develop severe heart failure, in which medicines, other treatments, and surgery no longer help. Many people are at risk for deadly heart rhythms, and may need medicines or a defibrillator.

Contact your provider if you have symptoms of cardiomyopathy.

Get emergency medical help right away if you have chest pain, palpitations or fainting.

Published Date: February 27, 2024
Published By: Thomas S. Metkus, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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Mann DL. Management of heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 50.