Risk factors

There are a number of things that can increase your risk of cardiomyopathy, including:

• Family history of cardiomyopathy, heart failure and sudden cardiac arrest
• Long-term high blood pressure
• Conditions that affect the heart, including a past heart attack, coronary artery disease or an infection in the heart (ischemic cardiomyopathy)
• Obesity, which makes the heart work harder
• Long-term alcohol misuse
• Illicit drug use, such as cocaine, amphetamines and anabolic steroids
• Treatment with certain chemotherapy drugs and radiation for cancer

Many diseases also raise your risk of cardiomyopathy, including:

• Diabetes
• Thyroid disease
• Storage of excess iron in the body (hemochromatosis)
• Amyloidosis
• Sarcoidosis
• Connective tissue disorders