Cardiomyopathy often causes symptoms of heart failure such as shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness, chest pain, swollen extremities, bloating of the abdomen, cough while lying down and abnormal heart rhythm. Symptoms of cardiomyopathy can get progressively worse. In some people, these symptoms progress faster than in others. If untreated, cardiomyopathy can lead to other heart complications such as blood clots, valve problems and cardiac arrest.
IMPORTANT: Call 911 for emergency medical treatment if you have severe breathing, fainting, or chest pain not relieved by rest or medications and lasting longer than 5 minutes.