What causes cardiomyopathy?

What causes cardiomyopathy?

Healthcare professionals may categorize cardiomyopathy based on the general cause. These two categories are:

• Ischemic cardiomyopathy, caused by heart attacks or coronary artery disease (CAD).
• Non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, types unrelated to CAD.

Sometimes, experts don't know the cause of cardiomyopathy (idiopathic). Some factors or conditions can increase your risk of cardiomyopathy, including:

• Autoimmune diseases, such as connective tissue diseases.
• Conditions that damage the heart, such as high cholesterol diseases, hemochromatosis or sarcoidosis.
• Endocrine conditions, such as diabetes or thyroid disease.
• Family history of heart failure, cardiomyopathy or sudden cardiac arrest.
• Previous heart attacks.
• Pregnancy.