HEART DOCTORS NEAR ME What is cardiomyopathy Cardiomyopathy is one of the main conditions that can affect your cardiac muscle tissue. It’s a disease that makes it harder for your heart to pump blood. There are several different types of cardiomyopathy: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The cardiac muscles enlarge and thicken for no apparent reason. It’s usually found in the lower chambers of the heart, called the ventricles. Dilated cardiomyopathy. The ventricles become larger and weaker. This makes it hard for them to pump, which makes the rest of your heart work harder to pump blood. Restrictive cardiomyopathy. The ventricles become stiff, which prevents them from filling to their full volume. Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia. The cardiac muscle tissue of your right ventricle is replaced with fatty or fiber-rich tissue. This can lead to arrhythmia, which refers to an abnormal heart rate or rhythm.