Cardiomyopathy Symptoms & Diagnosis

Symptoms

Symptoms vary, depending on the type of cardiomyopathy and its severity. Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy often do not notice any symptoms. Sudden cardiac death may be the first indication of the condition. In dilated cardiomyopathy, it may take years for symptoms to develop. Blood clots may form due to the abnormal pooling of blood in the heart. If a clot moves to another part of the body ( embolism ), symptoms associated with that organ (the brain, for example) may be the first sign of the heart disease.

Cardiomyopathy ultimately leads to heart failure and the following symptoms:

• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Shortness of breath, often worse when lying down or with exertion
• Cough
• Swelling in feet or legs
• Chest pain
• Irregular heart rhythm

Diagnosis

The doctor will:

• Ask about your symptoms and medical history
• Perform a physical exam
• Listen to your heart with a stethoscope (Cardiomyopathies often produce heart murmurs and other abnormal heart sounds.)

Tests may include:

• Chest x-ray —to look for heart enlargement
• Electrocardiogram —a test that records the heart's activity by measuring electrical currents through the heart muscle
• Echocardiogram —a test that uses high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to examine the size, shape, and motion of the heart
• Blood tests—to check for damage to the heart and other organs, and possibly the underlying cause(s) of the cardiomyopathy
• Cardiac catheterization —a tube-like instrument inserted into the heart through a vein or artery (usually in the arm or leg) to detect problems with the heart and its blood supply
• Heart biopsy —removal of a sample of heart tissue for testing