Cardiomyopathy (kar-dee-oh-my-OP-uh-thee) is a disease of the heart muscle. The muscle gets weak and larger than usual, making it hard to pump blood through the body. There are a few types of cardiomyopathy. More to Know People in all age groups can have cardiomyopathy. It can run in families or develop from causes such as infections, coronary artery disease, or a shortage of healthy nutrients in the body. Drug and alcohol abuse and exposure to other harmful substances can also cause cardiomyopathy. Sometimes the cause isn't known. Symptoms of cardiomyopathy can include shortness of breath; tiredness; swelling in the legs, ankles, and feet; bloating; dizziness; and fainting. Someone with cardiomyopathy may not notice the signs early on, but as the illness continues, so do the symptoms. Cardiomyopathy is a serious condition. If it's not treated, it can lead to serious arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), heart valve problems, blood clots, and even heart failure (when the heart is too weak to pump enough blood to the body). Keep in Mind There is no cure for cardiomyopathy, but doctors can treat it. Lifestyle changes, medicines, and devices put in the heart during surgery can help manage symptoms and stop the disease from getting worse. Someone with severe cardiomyopathy might need a heart transplant. All A to Z dictionary entries are regularly reviewed by KidsHealth medical experts. Back to Articles Related Articles Cardiomyopathy Cardiomyopathy is when the heart muscle becomes weak and enlarged, which makes it difficult to pump blood through the body. There’s usually no cure for the condition in children, but it can be treated. Read More Cardiomyopathy Factsheet (for Schools) What teachers should know about cardiomyopathy and what they can do to help students with the condition succeed in school. Read More Heart Murmurs Heart murmurs are very common, and most are no cause for concern and won't affect a child's health. Read More Heart Disease Heart disease, also called cardiovascular disease, mainly affects older people. Find out more in this article for kids. Read More Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is the use of a machine to do the work that the heart and lungs normally do. Read More Heart and Circulatory System The heart and circulatory system (also called the cardiovascular system) make up the network that delivers blood to the body's tissues. Read More When Your Child Needs a Heart Transplant If your child needs a heart transplant, you're probably feeling lots of emotions. Fortunately, many kids who undergo heart transplants go on to live normal, healthy lives. Read More Heart and Circulatory System The heart and circulatory system are our body's lifeline, delivering blood to the body's tissues. Brush up on your ticker with this body basics article. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.