Nova Scotia Health Authority. QEII. Inherited Heart Disease Clinic.
Halifax, NS:
Nova Scotia Health Authority
, 2023.
- Pamphlet Number
- 0629
- Available Online
- View Pamphlet
In dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), the heart muscle becomes weak. This makes it harder for the heart to pump blood out to the body. This causes the bottom chambers to dilate (stretch). A weak heart can also cause fluid to build up in your lungs (causing shortness of breath), ankles, or belly (causing swelling). DCM may also change your heart's electrical activity. This can cause fast heart rhythms. The pamphlet gives the causes of DCM, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. Further resources also gi…