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For my STEAM project, I will be discussing three main types of cardiomyopathy: dilated, restrictive, and hypertrophic. This project covers the structure and function of the heart learning objective. For the art portion of the project, I chose to illustrate how the heart changes when it has one of these three types of cardiomyopathy as well as include an illustration of what a normal, healthy heart looks like for comparison.
Cardiomyopathy is a disease that affects and weakens the heart muscle and makes it hard for the heart to pump blood effectively to the rest of the body. Many cases of cardiomyopathy are caused by genetic factors but can also be caused by other conditions such as autoimmune and tissue diseases, diabetes, and high cholesterol (Cleveland Clinic, 2025). Symptoms can include shortness of breath, fatigue, abnormal heart rates, and chest pain or dizziness. Cardiomyopathy can also lead to other serious heart conditions such as heart failure and arrhythmias (Mayo Foundation 2024). There are several different types of cardiomyopathy, but all involve weakening of the heart muscles and loss of proper function.
A common type called dilated cardiomyopathy, is where the ventricles, particularly the left ventricle, become stretched and enlarged and the walls get thin. This leads to the heart not being able to pump blood effectively to the rest of the body, leading to blood clots and heart failure. Dilated cardiomyopathy is usually genetic but can also be caused by other factors such as alcohol abuse, heart attacks, and infections (Lakdawala et al., 2013). Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is another type, which is the most common genetically inherited form of cardiomyopathy. This causes the left ventricle to be abnormally thick and stiff, making it difficult for the heart to take in and pump out blood. The heart is also not able to fully relax, causing diastolic dysfunction, so the heart can not be filled with blood (Gartzonikas et al., 2022). Restrictive cardiomyopathy is one of the rarest types and only makes up around 2-5% of all cardiomyopathy cases. It impacts the function of the heart by causing the ventricles to become stiff. This prevents the ventricles from relaxing and no longer allows them to fill up with blood that is needed to be pumped to the rest of the body (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, n.d.). Restrictive cardiomyopathy is caused by sarcoidosis, which is an inflammatory disease; iron buildup in the organs; radiation or chemotherapy damage; and amyloidosis (Brieler et al., 2017).
Diagnosing and treating cardiomyopathy can be done using several different methods. Echocardiograms are often used to look at images of the heart that are produced from sound waves and show the size and shape of the heart. Blood tests are used to check for amyloidosis or any infections that could be the underlying cause of cardiomyopathy. Electrocardiograms (ECG or EKG) are also often used to show the electrical activity of the heart and give doctors more insight into the patterns of the heart. Many types of cardiomyopathy are genetic, such as hypertrophic and dilated, and can be passed down through families, so testing is often done to confirm diagnosis and help guide treatment options (Mayo, 2024).
Although cardiomyopathy is not curable, there are several treatment options that are used to help manage symptoms, slow the progression of the disease, and allow people affected to live normal lives. This first starts with lifestyle choices such as maintaining a healthy weight for your height and age, eating a balanced diet, reducing alcohol intake, getting proper exercise that stimulates the heart, and managing stress (Cleveland Clinic, 2025). Medications are also prescribed that help to lower blood pressure, prevent blood clots, enhance blood flow, and improve the heart’s pumping ability. In more severe cases, surgery may be required to place devices in the heart, such as pacemakers and ventricular assist devices (VAD), to help monitor the progression of the disease and prevent further complications (Mayo, 2024).
Citations:
Brieler, J., Breeden, M. A., & Tucker, J. (2017, November 15). Cardiomyopathy: An overview. American Family Physician. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2017/1115/p640.html
Cleveland Clinic. (2025, April 1). What is cardiomyopathy? https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16841-cardiomyopathy
Gartzonikas, I. K., Naka, K. K., & Anastasakis, A. (2022, November 17). Current and emerging perspectives on pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Hellenic Journal of Cardiology. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1109966622001555
Lakdawala, N. K., Winterfield, J. R., & Funke, B. H. (2013). Dilated cardiomyopathy. Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, 6(1), 228–237. https://doi.org/10.1161/circep.111.962050
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2024, February 21). Cardiomyopathy: Symptoms & causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cardiomyopathy/symptoms-causes/syc-20370709
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2024, February 21). Cardiomyopathy: Diagnosis & treatment. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cardiomyopathy/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20370714U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Types of cardiomyopathy. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/cardiomyopathy/types
Jessica’s STEAM project covers the structure and function of the heart. Using drawing as an artistic medium, she explores the three main types of cardiomyopathy. Cardiomyopathy, as its name suggests, is a disease affecting the health and function of cardiac muscle tissue (myocardium). While it is most often caused by genetic factors, it can also result from lifestyle habits such as frequent alcohol consumption or other conditions like autoimmune diseases, diabetes, high cholesterol, and heart attacks.
The three types covered in this project include dilated, hypertrophic, and restrictive cardiomyopathy. Dilated cardiomyopathy causes the myocardium in the ventricles, particularly the large left ventricle—the main pumping chamber—to stretch (dilate). It is most commonly associated with genetic factors, alcohol abuse, and infections. The expansion of the left ventricle thins the tissue, impairing the heart’s ability to function effectively. Unable to pump the necessary amount of blood throughout the circulatory system, blood may pool within the ventricles, potentially leading to clotting and heart failure if left untreated. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy does the opposite. Most commonly genetically inherited, it causes the myocardium to thicken, resulting in abnormally stiff ventricles. Consequently, the heart cannot relax fully, meaning it cannot fill with enough blood or deliver the proper amount to other tissues. The last form of cardiomyopathy discussed, restrictive cardiomyopathy, is also the rarest, making up only 2-5% of all cases. Patients with restrictive cardiomyopathy experience effects similar to those of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, as it causes the ventricles to stiffen. Unable to relax, they cannot fill with an adequate amount of blood, leading to a lack of essential nutrients circulated throughout the body. Common causes of restrictive cardiomyopathy include sarcoidosis (an inflammatory disease), iron buildup in the organs, trauma from radiation or chemotherapy, and amyloidosis, a rare disease caused by the accumulation of the protein amyloid.
Cardiomyopathy can be diagnosed using electrocardiograms (ECGs or EKGs), which display the electrical activity of the heart and allow doctors to observe its rhythms. Echocardiograms are used to capture images of the heart produced by sound waves, revealing potentially abnormal appearances. Blood tests can be conducted to check for infections or diseases that may contribute to the development of certain cardiomyopathies. Because it is a disease that can be inherited, genetic testing also proves useful. Though it remains incurable to date, several treatment options are available to affected individuals, allowing them to manage symptoms, delay the progression of the disease, and lead relatively normal lives. Medications such as anticoagulants (blood thinners) may be prescribed to prevent clotting, or other medications that can improve blood flow, reduce blood pressure, or strengthen pumping ability may be used. In severe cases, surgery may be required to implant devices such as pacemakers or ventricular assist devices (VADs). An equally important method of treatment (or prevention) begins with lifestyle changes. Maintaining a healthy weight for your height and lifestyle, eating balanced meals, exercising, reducing stress, and limiting alcohol intake are all vital to the health of your heart.