What is Cardiomyopathy?

What is cardiomyopathy?

Cardiomyopathy is heart muscle disease. The common types are restrictive, hypertrophic and dilated. In restrictive type there is restriction of filling of the affected ventricle. It may affect either of the ventricles alone or both ventricles together. In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the ventricular muscle is thickened, commonly affecting the left ventricle. Thickened muscle may obstruct the outflow of blood from the left ventricle. Then it is called hypertrophic obstructive type. This variety is an important cause of sudden death in athletes. It is also transmitted genetically. In the dilated variety, the heart muscles are flabby and the ventricles are dilated.