What is Cardiomyopathy?
Cardiomyopathy is is a disease of the heart muscle and is NOT curable, but it can be controlled. This may be done by medication or the use of pacemakers etc.
There are four distinct types of Cardiomyopathy
- Dilated Cariomyopathy is the most common and causes the heart to enlarge or dilate. This form of the disease is recognised as the main cause for heart transplants
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy is when the heart muscle becomes thick. It is important to note that this form of the disease is inherited and is the number one cause of sudden death (young people) in the U.K. Indeed some of the most active people can have this disease. Terry Yorath’s son died (suddenly) of this
- Restricted Cardiomyopathy is when the heart is restricted in its ability to relax
- Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy is an electrical disturbance of the heart which tends to affect the right ventricle more than the left
For more detailed information, please see the CMO Association Booklets.
In all types the heart’s ability to pump blood is impaired.
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