Cardiomyopathy: Symptoms & Signs

Cardiomyopathy is a term that refers to any disease of the heart muscle and damage to the heart, resulting in its inability to pump adequate blood to the body. There are different types of cardiomyopathy depending on the cause of the damage to the heart. Some examples of causes of cardiomyopathy include coronary artery disease, alcohol abuse, and genetic conditions. Cardiomyopathy can ultimately cause heart failure.

With cardiomyopathy, the heart is usually enlarged, thickened, or stiffened. In some cases, the pumping chambers of the heart are abnormally dilated. Signs and symptoms result from decreased heart function and can include palpitations or a fast heart rate, chest pain, shortness of breath including coughing, fainting or dizziness, fatigue, and swollen extremities.

Causes of cardiomyopathy

Alcoholism, diabetes, coronary artery disease, thyroid disease, heart valve abnormalities, viral infections of the heart, drugs that cause damage to the heart, genetic conditions, high blood pressure, aging, buildup of scar tissue, amyloidosis, chemotherapy, chest exposure to radiation, hemochromatosis, and sarcoidosis can cause cardiomyopathy.

Other cardiomyopathy symptoms and signs

• Bloating
• Chest Pain
• Cough
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Fatigue
• Inability to Exercise
• Nausea
• Palpitations
• Poor Appetite
• Shortness of Breath (Dyspnea)
• Sudden Death
• Swelling of the Legs and Feet
• Swollen Extremities
• Weight Gain

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