Cardiomyopathy (literally "heart muscle disease") is the measurable deterioration for any reason of the ability of the
myocardium (the heart muscle) to contract, usually leading to
heart failure. Common symptoms include
dyspnea (breathlessness) and
peripheral edema (swelling of the legs). Those with cardiomyopathy are often at risk of dangerous forms of
irregular heart rate and
sudden cardiac death. The most common form of cardiomyopathy is
dilated cardiomyopathy. Although the term "cardiomyopathy" could theoretically apply to almost any disease affecting the heart, it is usually reserved for "severe myocardial disease leading to heart failure." Cardiomyopathy and
myocarditis resulted in 443,000 deaths in 2013, up from 294,000 in 1990.