What does cardiomyopathy mean?
Cardiomyopathy is a medical term for a disease affecting the heart muscle. Such diseases can weaken, enlarge, stiffen, or otherwise disrupt the muscle, reducing the heart’s efficiency and potentially causing breathlessness, fatigue, swelling, dizziness, or abnormal rhythms. The term covers several distinct conditions, including dilated, hypertrophic, and restrictive forms, which differ in the structural changes and patterns of inheritance involved. Cardiomyopathy may arise through genetic mutation, infection, inflammation, toxins, or other mechanisms, and diagnosis may involve an examination, electrocardiogram, blood tests, imaging, genetic testing, or sometimes biopsy. In ordinary conversation, the word carries a serious medical connotation and is usually reserved for formal or personal-health contexts. It is useful because it identifies disorders of the heart muscle itself, distinguishing them from conditions primarily involving the heart’s valves, arteries, or electrical conduction system, although these problems can coexist.
nounAny disease of the heart muscle that disrupts the heart’s structure or ability to pump blood effectively. It may be inherited or acquired and can cause symptoms such as breathlessness, swelling, and abnormal heart rhythms.
- A disease of the heart muscle that impairs the heart’s structure or pumping function.
"Her echocardiogram revealed a dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart’s main pumping chamber becomes enlarged and weakened."
"The scan showed signs of cardiomyopathy, so the specialist discussed treatment and long-term monitoring."
"A family history of inherited cardiomyopathy can prompt screening of close relatives."
The plural is used when referring to different types of cardiomyopathy, multiple cases, or a group of affected individuals.
"The researchers are studying inherited cardiomyopathies in several large families."
Cardiomyopathy puts the focus on the heart’s muscle—not merely on its rhythm or arteries.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does cardiomyopathy come from?
Cardiomyopathy was formed in English from Greek elements meaning “heart,” “muscle,” and “disease.” The heart component derives from Greek kardia, while the muscle component comes from mys or myos and the disease component from pathos. Its relatives include cardiac, cardiology, myocardial, and myopathy, which reflect combinations of the same Greek roots.
Related word forms
How cardiomyopathy is actually used
This is a specialized medical term used in clinical, scientific, and health-information contexts. It is an umbrella category rather than the name of only one disorder, so a more specific diagnosis may be given when one can be identified.
Easily confused with cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy is a broad term for diseases of the heart muscle, whereas myocarditis specifically denotes inflammation of that tissue.