A disease of the heart muscle that makes it harder for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body.

Cardiomyopathy can happen due to various other medical conditions. Or it can be passed down in families. There are several types of cardiomyopathy. The main types include dilated, hypertrophic and restrictive cardiomyopathy.

Cardiomyopathy symptoms can include shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, fainting, and heartbeats that feel fast, pounding or fluttering. But some people have no symptoms.

Cardiomyopathy treatment depends on the type of cardiomyopathy and how serious it is. Medicines, heart surgery and implanted heart devices are treatment options. Some people need a heart transplant.