Types

There are several types of cardiomyopathies. They differ based on their cause and how they affect the heart’s structure and function. Some types are rarer than others. All types weaken the heart muscle. Certain types are temporary and get better with time.

Some people have overlapping cardiomyopathies. For example, a person may have both dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy.

Dilated cardiomyopathy

Dilated cardiomyopathy is a common type of cardiomyopathy that happens when the ventricles (the lower chambers of the heart) weaken and get larger. The weakened ventricles don’t pump well, making your heart work harder.

Dilated cardiomyopathy is a condition that occurs when the heart’s left ventricle is enlarged.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy can occur during or after pregnancy. It is called peripartum cardiomyopathy. This condition most often develops late in pregnancy or within a few months after giving birth.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy is rare but serious. Learn what raises your risk and how to recognize the warning signs .

Visit the Peripartum Cardiomyopathy page.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy occurs when the heart muscle becomes larger and thicker than normal. The thickened areas can block the ventricles, making it harder for the heart to pump blood. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is commonly inherited , and first-degree relatives should be alerted and screened for the disease.

Why Some People Have Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy but Don't Know It

Scientists estimate that only 1 in 5 people who have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy get diagnosed. The main reason is that they don’t have symptoms, even though their heart muscle has thickened. In these cases, the thickening hasn’t affected blood flow, and symptoms don’t show up if oxygen-rich blood is reaching all parts of the body. Sometimes thickening of the heart muscle is detected when people have imaging tests for other health

Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy

Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy is a rare condition that develops when fatty or scarred tissue replaces the normal muscle tissue in the right ventricle. This can cause an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy usually affects teens or young adults. It increases the risk for cardiac arrest.

Restrictive cardiomyopathy

Restrictive cardiomyopathy is a rare type of cardiomyopathy that causes the ventricles to stiffen. Because of this, the ventricles can’t relax and don’t fill with enough blood to pump to the rest of the body. With restrictive cardiomyopathy, the walls of the heart do not thicken. Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy is a type of restrictive cardiomyopathy that is more common in Black men.

Left ventricular noncompaction

Left ventricular noncompaction is a rare type of cardiomyopathy. It occurs when the left ventricle develops muscle that is both smooth, as it should be, and loose, like a thick web. The loose muscle can extend into the left ventricle. This weakens the heart muscle and prevents the heart from pumping enough blood to the rest of the body.

Septic cardiomyopathy, or sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that results when the body’s response to infection injures its own tissues. Newborns have the highest risk of sepsis. Of every 10 people who get sepsis, between 1 and 7 develop septic cardiomyopathy. This type of cardiomyopathy usually goes away within 10 days if the person recovers from sepsis.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, or broken heart syndrome

diagram showing broken heart syndrome — **Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.** A normal heart is on the left. The image on the right is a heart affected by takotsubo cardiomyopathy, or broken heart syndrome. The lower chambers of the heart are enlarged.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a rare condition. It develops when extreme emotional or physical stress causes the heart muscle to stop working properly. This condition affects more women than men and is more common after menopause. Usually, the heart recovers in 3 to 4 weeks with medicine.

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FACT SHEET

Stress Less for a Healthier Heart

Learn how to manage stress for your heart health.

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Cardiomyopathy Types