Cardiomyopathy is the deterioration of the myocardium. The heart muscle becomes inflammed and cannot function properly. Many things can cause this serious disease, including genetics and viral infections. Primary cardiomyopathy is not caused by anything in particular, but secondary cardiomyopathy is often caused by high blood pressure, artery disease, heart valve disease, or genetics.People with cardiomyopathy are often at higher risk for conditions including arrhythmia or sudden cardiac death.

There are three basic types of cardiomyopathy - dilated, hypertrophic, and restrictive. Dilated cardiomyopathy is the most common type. In this type of cardiomyopathy the heart cavity is enlarged and becomes weak. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is when the heart muscle itself is thicker than it should be. This can obstruct the blood flow of the heart and causes symptoms like dizziness, fainting,  and shortness of breath. Restrictive cardiomyopathy is the least common type of cardiomyopathy in the United States. It occurs when the myocardium of the ventricles become excessively stiff or rigid and prevent the heart from filling properly in between heartbeats.