Heart: Cardiomyopathy - Heart Failure
Cardiomyopathy is a weakness of the heart muscle. It has many causes and often leads to heart failure when the needs of the body are not met by the weakened heart. It is estimated that 300,000 Australians are living with heart failure. Not all people with cardiomyopathy develop symptoms of heart failure. Now with improved medications and devices such as implanted defibrillators people are living for many years and with better quality of life. Self management with the assistance of a heart failure team and general practitioner is an important part of improving these outcomes.