Cardiomyopathy in humans is a disease of the heart muscle that affects its ability to pump blood effectively to the rest of the body. It is a group of diseases characterized by abnormal heart muscle that can become enlarged, thickened, stiff, or weak, leading to a reduced ability to pump blood. Symptoms may include shortness of breath, fatigue, swelling of the legs, irregular heartbeats, and fainting. If the condition worsens, it can cause heart failure or sudden cardiac death. There are several types of cardiomyopathy:

• Dilated cardiomyopathy: The heart's ventricles enlarge and weaken, becoming floppy and stretched. It is the most common form and can lead to heart failure and blood clots.
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: The heart muscle thickens, making it harder for the heart to pump blood. This type is often inherited.
• Restrictive cardiomyopathy: The heart muscle stiffens and loses flexibility, reducing the heart chambers' ability to fill with blood properly.
• Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia: Causes irregular heart rhythms and is often inherited.
• Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (broken heart syndrome): Caused by extreme emotional or physical stress.

Causes vary and can include genetic inheritance, alcohol use, viral infections, certain medical conditions, and in many cases, the cause is unknown. Treatment depends on the type and severity of the disease and can include lifestyle changes, medications, implanted devices, surgery, or heart transplant. Cardiomyopathy can affect people of all ages and is a leading cause of heart failure and heart transplants.