Why do my blood pressure and heart rate increase when i have a dilated cardiomyopathy?

Compensation: There is a decline in the amount of blood flow delivered by each heart beat. The heart compensates by beating more often to maintain overall output. Also the decline in blood flow may result in excess adrenaline which elevates the blood pressure. Alternatively high blood pressure causes cardiomyopathy.

See below: The body is trying to compensate for the heart not pumping enough blood to go the organs that need to be supplied with oxygen and nutrients. High blood pressure may have contributed to your heart problem to begin with and you need to control it. You need close physician follow-up!

To keep up output: Cardiac output is the amount of blood (in liters) pumped out of the heart in one min. It is calculated as stroke volume x heart rate. Cardiomyopathy makes the heart pump less efficiently and so reduces the amount per stroke (stroke volume) so to make up for the drop in stroke volume, the heart beats faster. Blood pressure is not typical for dilated cm, but may be due to other concurrent condition.