Defective genes can cause your heart muscle to thicken. You have a 50 percent chance of inheriting one of these genes if one of your parents is affected by HCM. HCM follows a dominant pattern of inheritance. Other possible causes of HCM include aging and high blood pressure. In some cases, the cause of HCM is never identified. Your doctor will listen for a heart murmur or unusual heartbeats. Heart murmurs may occur if thickened heart muscle disrupts blood flow to your heart. This is the most common diagnostic test for HCM.
An echocardiogram creates images of your heart using sound waves. Your doctor will look for any unusual movements. An electrocardiogram is used to measure the electrical activity in your heart. HCM can cause abnormal results. A Holter monitor is a portable electrocardiogram that you can wear throughout the day. Your doctor will have you wear it for 24 to 48 hours. This allows your doctor to see how your heartbeat changes during different activities.
This test is used to measure the pressure of blood flow in your heart and look for blockages. To perform this test, your doctor will place a catheter in one of your arteries in your arm or near your groin. The catheter is carefully threaded up through your arteries to your heart. Once it reaches your heart, dye is injected so your doctor can take detailed X-ray images.
Treatment for HCM focuses on relieving symptoms and preventing complications, especially sudden cardiac death.
The methods used depend on your:. Beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers relax your heart muscle. Relaxation helps it work better. If you have an irregular heart rhythm, your doctor might prescribe antiarrhythmic medications, such as amiodarone.
You might need to take antibiotics before dental procedures or surgery to lower your risk of infective endocarditis. The septum is the heart muscle wall between your two lower heart chambers, which are your ventricles. It helps improve blood flow through your heart. Symptoms and Diagnosis of Cardiomyopathy.
Prevention and Treatment of Cardiomyopathy. HCM Personal Stories. It is estimated that 1 in every adults living in the U.
Which of your patients is undiagnosed? Our online community of survivors and caregivers is here to keep you going no matter the obstacles. What is Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy? Signs and symptoms of HCM include: Chest pain, especially with physical exertion Shortness of breath, especially with physical exertion Fatigue Arrhythmias abnormal heart rhythms Dizziness Lightheadedness Fainting syncope Swelling in the ankles, feet, legs, abdomen and veins in the neck HCM is a chronic disease that can get worse over time.
Diagnosis Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is most often inherited. Medical and Family Histories Knowing your medical history and any signs and symptoms you may have is an important first step. Physical Exam Your heart and lungs will be checked. Diagnostic Tests Diagnosis is typically done by echocardiogram. Other diagnostic tests may include: Electrocardiogram ECG Cardiac MRI Stress tests Holter and event monitors Genetic testing Diagnostic Procedures Confirming diagnosis or preparing for surgery may also involve one or more medical procedures including: Cardiac catheterization Coronary angiography Treatment and Management of HCM There are currently no disease-specific medications for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Medications Medications called beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers and diuretics offer limited and varying relief of symptoms. Procedures A range of surgical and nonsurgical procedures can be used to treat HCM: Septal myectomy — Septal myectomy is open-heart surgery. This improves blood flow within the heart and out to the body. Alcohol septal ablation nonsurgical procedure — In this procedure, ethanol a type of alcohol is injected through a tube into the small artery that supplies blood to the area of heart muscle thickened by HCM.
The alcohol causes these cells to die. The thickened tissue shrinks to a more normal size. The risks and complications of heart surgery increase with age. For this reason, ablation may be preferred to myectomy in older patients with other medical conditions. Surgically implanted devices — Surgeons can implant several types of devices to help the heart work better, including: Implantable cardioverter defibrillator ICD — An ICD helps maintain a normal heartbeat by sending an electric shock to the heart if an irregular heartbeat is detected.
This reduces the risk of sudden cardiac death. Pacemaker — This small device uses electrical pulses to prompt the heart to beat at a normal rate. Heart transplant — In HCM patients with advanced, end-stage disease, a heart transplant may be considered. Last Reviewed: Nov 17, View information for Guest Services ».
Access your health information from any device with MyHealth. You can message your clinic, view lab results, schedule an appointment, and pay your bill. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy HCM occurs when the heart muscle thickens over time. This thickening usually occurs in the left ventricle, the chamber of the heart responsible for pumping oxygen-rich blood to the body.
HCM may affect the heart in various ways. In some people, this thickening or related mitral valve abnormalities, block the flow of blood from the heart, leading to symptoms. In others, the thickened muscle limits the ability of the heart to pump a normal ammount of blood, by restricting the size of its chamber or its ability to relax.
HCM also increases the chance that a person will have irregular heart rhythms arrhythmias , which can be life-threatening. With the right care, most people can have a full life and avoid the life-threatening complications that can arise when hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is not properly identified and managed. Our world-renowned hypertrophic cardiomyopathy center of excellence contributes to the latest clinical research on HCM. Our doctors have pioneered many HCM treatments and continue to improve care by testing new therapies and exploring genetic causes of this cardiomyopathy.
We specialize in expert interpretation of genetic testing, which can provide crucial treatment guidance and protect your family. Our team of cardiologists, electrophysiologists, genetic counselors, advanced practice providers, nurses, and other specialists work together to thoroughly evaluate your heart and your medical and family histories. We use the latest diagnostic technology, including a specialized echocardiogram that involves you exercising on a treadmill or stationary bicycle.
This test allows us to assess your left ventricular blood flow, heart thickness and stiffness, valve functioning, electrocardiogram ECG changes, and exercise capacity. We also work with Stanford Sports Cardiology to check athletes for cardiovascular irregularities.
Some people may need only lifestyle adjustments and annual clinic visits with heart testing. Other people may require medications or additional interventions to manage their condition. Depending on your personal situation, your care plan may include a single treatment approach or a combination of these options:. Test results can guide treatment, identify affected family members, and help with family planning.
We work with you to find the right oral medications at the right doses to address your specific symptoms. We often also offer clinical trials for newer medications. Our center leads the world in exploring the safety of exercise for people with HCM. We develop an exercise prescription specifically for you using the information we gather from your heart testing. Your personalized exercise prescription provides you with specific information about exercise intensity and target heart rates.
Our goal is to help you live the active life you want while safely managing HCM risks and symptoms. We understand that living with a chronic heart condition can present challenges. Our team includes psychologists who are specially trained in the needs of cardiovascular patients. These experts provide behavioral therapy and other services to promote your resilience and help you adjust to your diagnosis.
They also support you in making important lifestyle adjustments. People with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are at higher risk for developing an irregular heart rhythm known as an arrhythmia. These life-threatening arrhythmias can include atrial fibrillation, which can increase your risk of stroke, and ventricular tachycardia.
People do not always feel these irregular heart rhythms, so we perform regular rhythm monitoring. We offer expert care to protect your heart from arrhythmias. Some people have a type of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy called obstructive HCM that interferes with the smooth flow of blood leaving the heart.
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