Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy means “disease of the heart muscle.” In cardiomyopathy, the damaged heart muscle becomes enlarged, thick, or rigid, and cannot pump blood effectively.
Many people live with cardiomyopathy, unaware that they have the condition. It is the leading cause of heart failure and the most common reason for needing a heart transplant.
Unlike other heart problems, it frequently affects younger people.
Types of cardiomyopathy
| Dilated cardiomyopathy |
- most common form
- damaged heart muscles lead to an enlarged and floppy heart
- heart stretches as it tries to compensate for weakened pumping action
- often produces signs of congestive heart failure, such as breathlessness and fluid retention
- can lead to the formation of clots
- rarely, can occur after pregnancy, this is known as peripartum cardiomyopathy
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| Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) |
- second most common form
- causes heart wall to thicken, leaving less space for blood in the chambers and making the heart work harder to pump blood out
- most often inherited
- can affect people of all ages
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| Restrictive cardiomyopathy |
- causes portions of the heart wall to become rigid and lose flexibility
- heart chambers are unable to fill with blood properly because of stiffness in the heart
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About the UPMC Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center
At UPMC's Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) Center, people with HCM have access to:
- Coordinated, state-of-the-art care for the diagnosis and treatment of this complex heart disease.
- Innovative treatment options based on the latest research protocols for HCM.
- A team of experts in HCM disease management, advanced cardiac imaging, and cardiovascular genetics.
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