What is dilated cardiomyopathy?
Dilated Cardiomyopathy is a condition when the heart is enlarged and weak and results in less pumping of blood around the body.

What is the function of the heart?
Our heart acts as a pump and plays an important role in circulating the blood in the body. Heart is divided in four chambers and every camber has a specific role in fresh blood to the body. The top right chamber receives blood that has already circulated through the body hence low in oxygen. The bottom right chambers than pumps this low oxygenated blood to the lungs to receive oxygen. This high oxygenated blood is then supplied in the top left chamber and then supplied to the body by the bottom left chamber of the heart.

What is the problem in dilated cardiomyopathy?
When a person suffers from dilated cardiomyopathy, the pumping is not as effective as it should be. Hence after every heart beat, some blood is left as all the blood is not pumped out. Over a period of time, more and more blood is left and accumulates in the heart. Due to this the heart stretches out of shape and the heart muscle becomes weaker and weaker, and causing a heart failure.

What is heart failure?
Heart failure doesn't necessarily imply that heart will stop functioning, but it means that the heart cannot work properly to supply the blood required by the body. This inefficient pumping may also result in fluid build up in lungs and body parts such as ankles, liver, abdomen etc.