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Step 1
Determine if you have dilated cardiomyopathy. This is the most common form where the heart cavity enlarges and stretches. The person often goes into heart failure, because the heart becomes too weak to pump the blood through the body. Signs of this type include: arrhythmias (irregular heart beat), heart murmurs, increased blood pressure and blood clots. If you have Barth syndrome (usually affects male children), you are more at risk for dilated cardiomyopathy. In young children, signs include: short stature, decreased immune system and neutropenia (decrease in white blood cells).
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Step 2
Determine if you have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This is when the left ventricle of the heart enlarges. It is also called hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (H.O.C.M.), asymmetric septal hypertrophy (A.S.H.) and idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis (I.H.S.S.). Signs of this type include: shortness of breath during physical activity, dizziness, fainting and angina pectoris (chest pain). If the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy runs in your family, close blood relatives often have an enlarged septum.
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Step 3
Determine if you have restrictive cardiomyopathy. This is the least common type. The heart muscle of the ventricles becomes rigid, preventing blood from filling up the ventricles. Signs of this type include: fatigue, swollen hands and feet and difficulty breathing.
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Step 4
Evaluate your body for other signs of cardiomyopathy such as fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath (during physical activity and/or rest), swelling of stomach, legs, ankles or feet, dizziness and light headedness.
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Step 5
Seek a doctor's attention immediately if you think you have cardiomyopathy.
