Cardiomyopathy Causes & Risks

Causes

In many cases, the exact cause is not known. Possible causes include:

Dilated

The cause of the initial damage is often not found, but may include:

Ischemic heart disease with decreased blood flow to the heart
Infections, usually viral
Chronic exposure to toxins, including alcohol and some chemotherapy drugs
A rare complication of pregnancy or childbirth (probably immune-related)
Rarely, other illnesses, including rheumatoid arthritis , diabetes, or thyroid disease

Hypertrophic

Causes may include:

Inherited: sometimes present at birth but often developing in teens
Aging: associated with hypertension

Restrictive

This is usually related to another condition, such as:

Amyloidosis —protein fibers collect in the heart muscle
Sarcoidosis –small inflammatory masses (granulomas) form in many organs
Hemochromatosis —too much iron in the body

Risk Factors

A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition.

Family members with cardiomyopathy
Alcoholism
Obesity
Diabetes
Hypertension
Coronary artery disease
Certain drugs

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