Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for women, and yet many heart conditions, like cardiomyopathy, fly under the radar, especially in women.
Cardiomyopathy is not a single disease but a group of conditions that affect the heart muscle, making it harder for the heart to pump blood effectively. While anyone can develop cardiomyopathy, women face unique challenges in diagnosis and treatment — challenges that often lead to delays and worse outcomes.
What Is Cardiomyopathy?
At its core, cardiomyopathy refers to diseases of the heart muscle. These conditions alter the heart’s structure or function, sometimes gradually and quietly. The major types include:
Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) — The heart’s chambers enlarge and weaken, often leading to heart failure.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) — Thickened heart muscle that can make it harder to pump blood.
Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM) — A rare but serious form that occurs during pregnancy or shortly after delivery.
Restrictive Cardiomyopathy — The heart muscle becomes stiff, restricting its ability to fill with blood.
Each type can affect women differently, yet the symptoms may feel subtle or ambiguous, especially in the early stages.
Why Women Are Often Diagnosed Late
Cardiomyopathy can present with symptoms that mimic less severe conditions. In many cases, women are told their symptoms are due to stress, anxiety, or aging, rather than a heart condition. This is compounded by a historic underrepresentation of women in cardiovascular research, which has limited medical understanding of how heart disease uniquely presents in women.
Women may also face systemic challenges:
- Healthcare bias: Symptoms may be minimized or misinterpreted.
- Outdated diagnostic frameworks: Many clinical definitions of heart disease are based on male populations, which can delay recognition and diagnosis in women.
- Life stage influences: Hormonal shifts during pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause can interact with heart disease risk.
Common Symptoms in Women
Symptoms of cardiomyopathy in women can be subtle, and they often develop slowly. These may include:
- Persistent fatigue — not just occasional tiredness but a consistent lack of energy.
- Shortness of breath — especially with exertion or lying flat.
- Swelling in legs, ankles, and feet — often dismissed as fluid retention.
- Palpitations or irregular heartbeat — the sensation that your heart is racing or skipping beats.
- Dizziness or fainting — especially during activity.
- Chest discomfort or pressure — including sensations that fall outside traditional diagnostic definitions of chest pain.
These symptoms overlap with other conditions, and many women overlook them until they worsen. That’s why awareness and advocacy are so important.
The Impact of Delayed Diagnosis
When cardiomyopathy is diagnosed early, treatments can slow disease progression, improve quality of life, and prevent complications like heart failure. But delayed diagnosis can increase the risk of serious outcomes, including cardiac arrest and irreversible heart damage.
Studies show that women are more likely than men to experience delays in diagnosis for several reasons:
- Symptoms are dismissed or misattributed.
- Providers may not recognize gender‑specific presentations.
- Women are less frequently referred for advanced cardiac testing.
Actionable Steps for Women
Here’s how women can take charge of their heart health:
1. Know the symptoms.
Don’t wait for a dramatic event to take symptoms seriously. Keep a record of changes in your energy, breathing, or circulation.
2. Advocate for a thorough evaluation.
Ask for echocardiograms or cardiac MRI if symptoms persist and aren’t explained by other conditions. Bring notes to your appointment and don’t hesitate to seek a second opinion.
3. Learn your family history.
Certain forms of cardiomyopathy have genetic links. Understanding your family’s health history can help guide screening and prevention strategies.
4. Leverage support networks.
Peer communities, such as WomenHeart support groups, help patients navigate diagnosis, treatment options, and emotional impact.
Real Voices, Real Impact
One of the most powerful ways to understand cardiomyopathy is through lived experience. WomenHeart Champions and patients share their journeys, from misdiagnosis to understanding, from fear to empowerment. Their stories highlight both the challenges and the triumphs of navigating this condition with resilience.
These voices remind us that early recognition, education, and self‑advocacy can change life trajectories.
Why Awareness Matters
Cardiomyopathy doesn’t have to be a silent threat. Awareness empowers women to:
- Recognize subtle symptoms early
- Ask the right questions at provider visits
- Advocate for comprehensive cardiac evaluation
- Share their experiences to educate others
Cardiomyopathy is not just a clinical term; it’s a condition with real consequences, and real opportunities for intervention when women are informed and supported.
Our upcoming HeartTalk on January 21 focuses on cardiomyopathy in women, an often-misdiagnosed group of conditions that can significantly impact heart function. Join cardiologist Dr. Mariko Harper, WomenHeart CEO Celina Gorre, and WomenHeart Champions as they explain the types of cardiomyopathy, symptoms to look out for, and the importance of early diagnosis.
