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Cardiomyopathy

Definition:

Cardiomyopathy is a weakening of the heart muscle or a change in heart muscle structure. It is often associated with inadequate heart pumping or other heart function abnormalities.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Cardiomyopathy can be caused by viral infections, heart attacks , alcoholism, long-term, severe high blood pressure, nutritional deficiences (particularly selenium, thiamine, and L-carnitine), systemic lupus erythematosus, celiac disease, and end-stage kidney disease.

Specific types of cardiomyopathy include:

Dilated cardiomyopathy accounts for over 10,000 deaths each year. Nearly 50,000 people a year are hospitalized due to this condition. The condition may not produce symptoms in some people, or it may be so severe that heart failure develops, which may require a heart transplant .

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