Subscribe to our newsletter. Weakening of the heart muscle is called cardiomyopathy . As dilated cardiomyopathy progresses, symptoms of shortness of breath, weakness, fatigue, and leg swelling worsen. Meanwhile, studies are underway to assess the ability of the implantable defibrillator to prolong survival in some groups of patients with cardiomyopathy.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is usually a genetic condition that tends to run in families.
It is characterized by a thickening of the ventricular muscle that results in muscle stiffness. This stiffness can lead to episodes of extreme shortness of breath in some patients, especially during exercise. The thickening of the heart muscle can also cause an obstruction in the left ventricle similar to that seen with aortic stenosis. And some patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can develop ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation, and some thus require insertion of an implantable defibrillator. Sponsored Links Save Now with a Free Pharmacy Discount Card.