Alcoholic cardiomyopathy

Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is a disease in which the chronic long-term abuse of alcohol (i.e. ethanol) leads to heart failure. Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is a type of dilated cardiomyopathy. Due to the direct toxic effects of alcohol on heart muscle, the heart is unable to pump blood efficiently, leading to heart failure. It can affect other parts of the body if the heart failure is severe. It is most common in males between the ages of 35-50.