US Medical Term · conditions
Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomiopatía
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Cardiomyopathy |
| Spanish (Español) | Cardiomiopatía |
| Chinese (中文) | 心肌病 |
| Korean (한국어) | 심근병증 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Bệnh cơ tim |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Cardiomyopathy |
| Portuguese (Português) | Cardiomiopatia |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | โรคกล้ามเนื้อหัวใจ |
| Japanese (日本語) | 心筋症 |
What it means
Cardiomyopathy refers to diseases of the heart muscle that make it harder for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body. The heart muscle may become enlarged, thickened, or stiff. As cardiomyopathy worsens, the heart becomes weaker and may lead to heart failure, arrhythmias, or sudden cardiac arrest. Common types include dilated (enlarged heart), hypertrophic (thickened heart muscle), and restrictive (stiff heart). Causes include genetics, prior heart attack, viral infections, and excessive alcohol use. Symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, leg swelling, and palpitations. Treatment includes medications, lifestyle changes, devices, or heart transplant in severe cases.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
I was recently diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy and want to understand what it means for my daily life.
Recientemente me diagnosticaron cardiomiopatía dilatada y quiero entender qué significa para mi vida diaria.
My cardiomyopathy has made it harder to walk up stairs without getting winded.
Mi cardiomiopatía me ha dificultado subir escaleras sin cansarme.
Does my insurance cover an implantable defibrillator for my cardiomyopathy?
¿Mi seguro cubre un desfibrilador implantable para mi cardiomiopatía?
Where you'll see it
Related ICD-10-CM category
I42 CardiomyopathyRelated terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026