Breadcrumb < Cardiology specialty areas Cardiomyopathy Clinic Cardiologists in the Cardiomyopathy Clinic have specialised training, experience and expertise evaluating and treating people with all forms of the condition. Request an appointment Phone+44 (0) 207 871 2575 Share Print the page Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email the page Tab Title Description Overview Diagnosing Treating What is cardiomyopathy? The disease cardiomyopathy affects the heart muscle and makes it more difficult to pump blood. Cardiomyopathy is a dangerous, even deadly, condition that can lead to heart failure. There are three main types of cardiomyopathy: Dilated cardiomyopathy affects the left ventricle of the heart, which pumps blood out to the body. The disease causes the chamber to enlarge (dilate), so it can't effectively pump blood out of the heart. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is an unusual thickening of the heart muscle. It affects the left ventricle, which is the heart's main pumping chamber. As heart muscle thickens, it can become difficult for the heart to work properly. Restrictive cardiomyopathy concerns the heart muscle becoming rigid and less flexible. As a result, the heart can't expand properly between beats, so the amount of blood in each pump is lessened. Besides the main types of cardiomyopathy, Mayo Clinic Healthcare cardiologists are also experts at treating rare forms, including: Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia, which affects the right ventricle, replacing its muscle with scar tissue. The condition can lead to irregular heart rhythm. Channelopathies, which are inherited heart muscle diseases associated with abnormal heart rhythms and increased risk of sudden cardiac death. Unclassified cardiomyopathy. Other types of cardiomyopathy fall into this category. Learn more about cardiomyopathy at MayoClinic.org Diagnosing cardiomyopathy Accurately diagnosing the type of cardiomyopathy and the disease's progression is vital to establishing effective treatments. Experts in Mayo Clinic Healthcare's Cardiomyopathy Clinic can accurately diagnose using a wide array of highly accurate tests, including: Blood test Cardiac CT scan Cardiac MRI Chest X-ray Genetic testing Echocardiogram Holter monitor Stress test Treating cardiomyopathy While cardiomyopathy cannot be cured, effective treatments may ease your symptoms, prevent it from getting worse and lessen the risks of complications. The type and nature of your cardiomyopathy will determine the type of treatment(s) you receive. Based on your specific needs, your cardiologist may recommend (individually or in combination): Medications Surgically implanted devices, such as an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), a ventricular assist device (VAD) or a pacemaker Ablation Surgery To ensure your treatment plan is effective, you will have regular follow-up visits with your Mayo Clinic Healthcare cardiologist to monitor your progress.