What is a common symptom observed in individuals with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)?

Individuals with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) often experience symptoms related to heart failure due to the impaired ability of the heart to pump blood effectively. One common symptom associated with DCM is angina, which refers to chest pain or discomfort that occurs when the heart muscle does not receive enough oxygen-rich blood. This symptom may arise due to the increased workload on the heart and potential ischemia, especially during physical activity or stress.

In contrast, options such as increased appetite and improved exercise capacity are not typically associated with DCM. In fact, individuals with this condition usually experience a decreased exercise capacity due to fatigue and dyspnea. Hypertensive episodes may occur in some conditions related to heart failure but are not a hallmark symptom of DCM itself, making them less relevant in this context. Thus, angina serves as a more accurate representation of the type of discomfort individuals with dilated cardiomyopathy might commonly report.