Cardiomyopathy
A group of diseases of the heart muscle itself, in which the muscle becomes enlarged and weak, abnormally thickened, or stiff. It can cause breathlessness, swelling, palpitations and fatigue, and in some forms carries a risk of dangerous rhythm problems. Care aims to relieve symptoms and reduce risk.
What it is
Cardiomyopathy means a disease of the heart muscle itself, distinct from problems that start in the arteries or valves. There are several main types. In dilated cardiomyopathy the heart chambers stretch and the muscle pumps weakly, the commonest cause of heart failure in this group. In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy the muscle becomes abnormally thick, often inherited, and is an important cause of sudden cardiac problems in young people and athletes. In restrictive cardiomyopathy the muscle becomes stiff and cannot fill properly. Causes range widely: genetics, previous viral infection of the heart (myocarditis), long-standing high blood pressure, heavy alcohol use, certain chemotherapy drugs, thyroid disease and pregnancy-related forms, and often no cause is found. Symptoms come from the heart failing to pump or fill efficiently: breathlessness (especially on exertion or lying flat), swelling of the legs, fatigue, palpitations and sometimes fainting or chest discomfort. Diagnosis rests on imaging — especially an echocardiogram — with an ECG and blood markers. Treatment depends on the type and includes medications for heart failure and rhythm, sometimes devices such as defibrillators, and treating any underlying cause. Many people live well with appropriate care.
Key lab markers
- NT-proBNP / BNP — natriuretic peptides; raised when the heart is under strain, supporting a diagnosis of heart failure and tracking it.
- Troponin — may be mildly raised; assessed to exclude a heart attack and in some forms of muscle disease.
- Galectin-3 — a marker of cardiac fibrosis and remodelling, used for prognosis.
- Thyroid function, and markers of alcohol or other causes — to find a treatable underlying cause.
- Kidney function and electrolytes — important for safe use of heart-failure medications.
Symptoms
- Breathlessness, especially on exertion or when lying flat
- Swelling of the legs, ankles or abdomen
- Fatigue and reduced exercise tolerance
- Palpitations or an irregular heartbeat
- Dizziness or fainting
- Chest discomfort in some forms
- Sometimes no symptoms until advanced, or found on family screening
Related symptoms
Related lab panels
When to discuss with a doctor
Cardiomyopathy is diagnosed and managed by doctors, centred on imaging such as an echocardiogram rather than on blood tests alone. See a doctor for unexplained breathlessness (particularly on lying flat or with leg swelling), palpitations, fainting, or reduced exercise tolerance, and be aware that some forms run in families — so a relative diagnosed young, or a family history of sudden cardiac death, is a reason to be assessed even without symptoms. Fainting during exercise, or chest pain with breathlessness, needs urgent attention. Blood markers such as NT-proBNP support the picture and help monitor heart failure, but they do not diagnose cardiomyopathy by themselves. Mediora.AI can flag a raised natriuretic-peptide pattern that points toward heart strain and warrants cardiac assessment, but the diagnosis and treatment of cardiomyopathy belong with your doctor and a cardiologist.