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	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

Cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the myocardium (heart muscle) does not work properly, can affect children and adults. Unlike heart disease due to heart attacks, where there is a problem with adequate blood flow to the heart, in cardiomyopathy the disease is in the heart muscle itself. The most common type of cardiomyopathy is dilated cardiomyopathy—the heart chambers gradually enlarge from ineffective heart muscle contraction. The end result of this is congestive heart failure—the heart cannot pump enough blood for the body's organs to function properly. The December 15, 2004, issue of JAMA includes an article about cardiomyopathy.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

• Shortness of breath
  
• Fatigue
  
• Chest pain
  
• Irregular heartbeat
  
• Syncope (fainting) or lightheadedness
  
• Decreased mental function
  
• Swelling of the legs and feet or the abdomen
  

Janet M. Torpy, MD, Writer; Cassio Lynm, MA, Illustrator; Richard M. Glass, MD, Editor

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ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT