Symptoms of the cardiomyopathy they can be totally absent for a long time and appear at any time in life. There is not a particular symptom present in all patients.

Wheezing (“Dyspnea”) and Fatigue

In some stages of the disease, the ability to perform physical activity may be limited by breathlessness and / or fatigue. Most individuals have only a mild limitation to exercise, but occasionally the limitation can be severe and a minority may struggle with even modest exertion.

Chest pain ("Angina")

Chest pain or chest tightness is a common symptom. It is usually triggered by exertion and relieved by rest, but pain can also come at rest and can also last for a long time. The cause is usually referred to an insufficient amount of oxygen supplied to the myocardium (ischemia). In cardiomyopathies the major coronary arteries are usually normal, although congenital anomalies are rarely seen and, after age 40, it is possible to have a blockage of a coronary vessel. In most patients with cardiomyopathy the flow necessary to convey oxygen and nutrients to the cells can be reduced, and insufficient, especially when the heart makes an effort or when the heart accelerates a lot (over 130-150 beats per minute).

Palpitations

La palpitation it is an uncomfortable sensation of an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) that everyone can occasionally hear. However, in some cases the heartbeat can have a sudden onset, be very fast, associated with sweating, breathlessness, a sense of loss of balance or fainting. The possible presence of a arrhythmia important must be ascertained with dynamic ECG (Holter) by a cardiologist and treated appropriately.

Dizziness and fainting ("Syncope")

People can sometimes feel dizzy and rarely fall unconscious (Syncope). This can happen during exercise or at rest, with no apparent clear trigger.

The reasons for these episodes are not always immediately evident and their documentation can be difficult, if occasional. They may be due to an irregular heartbeat, or a sudden drop in blood pressure. Episodes of dizziness and any fainting must be reported immediately to the cardiologist, who will decide on subsequent investigations.