What are the causes of cardiomyopathy?

Condition analysis:
There are many types of cardiomyopathy, with different causes. Some of the more common ones are:

-- Dilated cardiomyopathy is a condition in which the heart becomes weak and the chambers get large. As a result, the heart cannot pump enough blood out to the body. It can be caused by many medical problems.

-- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a condition in which the heart muscle becomes thick. This makes it harder for blood to leave the heart. This type of cardiomyopathy is most often passed down through families.

-- Ischemic cardiomyopathy is caused by a narrowing of the arteries that supply the heart with blood. It makes the heart walls thin so they DO NOT pump well.

-- Restrictive cardiomyopathy is a group of disorders. The heart chambers are unable to fill with blood because the heart muscle is stiff. The most common causes of this type of cardiomyopathy are amyloidosis and scarring of the heart from an unknown cause.

-- Peripartum cardiomyopathy occurs during pregnancy or in the first 5 months afterward.

Instructions:
Avoid fad diets:
-- Eat a well-rounded diet instead.
-- Eat small, frequent meals.
-- Avoid large and heavy meals.

 Limit cholesterol in diet:
-- To less than 200 milligrams a day.

Eat enough dietary fiber:
-- Whole grains are best.

Reduce salt in your diet
-- Optimal: no more than 1,500 milligrams per day.