What Causes Cardiomyopathy?

Cardiomyopathy, also known as heart muscle disease, is a disease that affects the muscles surrounding the heart. During the very early stages of cardiomyopathy, there may be few, if any, signs or symptoms. However, as the disease progresses, patients may experience a broad range of symptoms including shortness of breath, swollen legs and feet, abdominal bloating, excessive fatigue, coughing, chest discomfort, and unusual heartbeats. There are several causes of cardiomyopathy, and they are classified as either inherited (genetic) or acquired. There are more than a dozen different causes in the acquired classification.