What Is Cardiomyopathy?
- Posted on: Jan 8 2026
If you have been told you may have cardiomyopathy, it is normal to feel worried and a little overwhelmed. This word simply means a disease of your heart muscles, one that makes it harder for your heart to pump blood to the rest of your body. Over time, that strain can increase your risk for heart failure, abnormal heart rhythms, or even sudden cardiac arrest if it is not treated.
What Is Cardiomyopathy?
In cardiomyopathy, the heart muscle becomes thick, stiff, enlarged, or weak. Because of those changes, your heart must work harder to do its usual job. It may not be able to pump enough blood forward, or it may not relax and fill the way it should between beats.
When that happens, you can feel tired, short of breath, lightheaded, or notice swelling in your legs or ankles. In some people, the first sign is an irregular heartbeat or fainting spell. Others have no symptoms at all until the disease is more advanced.
Types of Cardiomyopathy
There is not just one kind of cardiomyopathy. Common types include:
- Dilated cardiomyopathy: The main pumping chamber becomes enlarged and weaker, so it cannot squeeze blood out as well as it should. This is a leading cause of heart failure in the United States.
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: The heart muscle becomes abnormally thick, often in the wall between the two lower chambers. This can block blood flow out of the heart and raise the risk of serious rhythm problems. This type of cardiomyopathy affects about 1 in 500 people.
- Restrictive cardiomyopathy: The heart muscle becomes very stiff, so it cannot relax and fill properly between beats. You may feel increased shortness of breath, even if the pumping strength looks normal at first.
- Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy: Healthy heart muscle is gradually replaced by scar or fatty tissue, usually in the right ventricle. This makes dangerous rhythm problems more likely, especially during exercise.
Symptoms of Cardiomyopathy
Symptoms of cardiomyopathy can be subtle at first. You might blame them on stress, aging, or being “out of shape,” even though they signal that your heart is working harder than it should.
Possible symptoms include:
- Shortness of breath, especially when you climb stairs or lie flat
- Fatigue or low energy that does not match your usual activity
- Swelling in your ankles, feet, legs, or abdomen
- Chest discomfort or pressure, particularly with exertion
- Rapid, pounding, or irregular heartbeats (palpitations)
- Dizziness, near-fainting, or fainting
Risk Factors for Cardiomyopathy
You can develop cardiomyopathy at any age, but certain factors make it more likely. Some are inherited, while others relate to your lifestyle or other medical conditions.
Risk factors include:
- A family history of cardiomyopathy, heart failure, or sudden cardiac death
- Long-standing high blood pressure
- Coronary artery disease or past heart attack
- Diabetes, obesity, or sleep apnea
- Heavy alcohol use or use of certain drugs, including cocaine
- Some chemotherapy medicines and radiation to the chest
- Autoimmune or infiltrative diseases, such as amyloidosis or hemochromatosis
- Pregnancy-related heart weakness (peripartum cardiomyopathy)
Diagnosis
At Hunterdon Cardiovascular Associates, we do not rely on a single test. Instead, we combine your story, exam findings, and heart imaging to understand what is really happening.
Your evaluation may include:
- A detailed discussion of your symptoms, medications, and family history
- A physical exam, including listening for murmurs and checking for swelling
- An electrocardiogram (ECG) to look at your heart’s electrical activity
- An echocardiogram (ultrasound) to see the size, shape, and function of your heart
- Blood tests to look for thyroid problems, iron overload, infections, or other causes
- A Holter monitor or event monitor, if you have palpitations or fainting spells
- Cardiac MRI or coronary imaging in more complex cases
Prevention
You cannot prevent every case of cardiomyopathy, especially those driven by genetics. However, you can lower your overall risk and help protect your heart muscle with day-to-day choices.
Helpful steps include:
- Keeping your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar in a healthy range
- Not smoking and avoiding recreational drugs
- Limiting alcohol to moderate levels, or avoiding it if your doctor advises
- Staying active with regular, heart-healthy exercise that feels safe for you
- Maintaining a healthy weight and getting good sleep
- Talking with your care team before and during cancer treatments that may affect the heart
Outlook
Hearing the word cardiomyopathy can make you think the worst, but the outlook today is often much better than people expect. With early diagnosis, modern medications, and careful follow-up, many people live active, full lives for years.
Your individual outlook depends on the type of cardiomyopathy, how early it is found, and how well other conditions are controlled. We monitor you over time, adjust treatment as your needs change, and talk openly about what to expect so you are not left guessing.
Complications
Without treatment, cardiomyopathy can lead to several serious complications. These may include heart failure, dangerous heart rhythms, blood clots that can cause stroke, and sudden cardiac arrest.
The goal of following a treatment plan is to lower these risks. That is why we pay close attention to new or worsening symptoms, such as increased shortness of breath, swelling, or fainting episodes.
Treatment Options
Treatment for cardiomyopathy is always individualized. At Hunterdon Cardiovascular Associates, we consider your specific diagnosis, symptoms, and life goals. Then we build a plan together.
Your plan may include:
- Medications to relax blood vessels, lower blood pressure, and help your heart pump more efficiently
- Diuretics to reduce fluid buildup and ease swelling or shortness of breath
- Medicines or procedures to control heart rhythm problems
- Lifestyle changes, such as sodium restriction, weight management, and tailored exercise
- Devices like pacemakers or implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) for certain high-risk patients
- In advanced cases, referral for specialized therapies or procedures through our broader cardiovascular disease services
When to See a Cardiologist
You should see a cardiologist if you have symptoms that worry you, especially if they are new, persistent, or getting worse. Shortness of breath, chest discomfort, fainting, or a strong family history of heart disease are all reasons not to wait.
You should also reach out if you have been told you carry a gene for cardiomyopathy, or if a close relative has been diagnosed. In those situations, early evaluation can be just as important as treatment.
Schedule an Appointment
Hunterdon Cardiovascular Associates is committed to providing the highest quality of care in a patient-centered environment. Our offices are in Clinton, Flemington, and Bridgewater, New Jersey. To make an appointment with one of our cardiologists, please call us today at (908) 788-1710 or connect with us here.
Posted in: Cardiovascular Diseases
