Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy risk factors

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy affects people of all ages and can develop at any time in life. Due to its genetic roots, the condition often runs in families, so if a parent was diagnosed with HCM, you have a higher risk of developing it. If you have a parent or sibling with the condition, you should talk to your doctor about your risk.

Aside from genetics, doctors have identified a few other risk factors for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, such as high blood pressure.

Complications

Most people with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy don’t develop complications. In some cases, serious heart problems can occur, especially as the condition progresses. In young people and athletes, HCM is a common cause of sudden cardiac death, but this is very rare.

Complications of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can include:

• Atrial fibrillation: Thickening of the heart muscle can cause the atria (top chambers of the heart) to stretch, beat rapidly and irregularly and cause potentially dangerous blood clots.
• Heart failure: As the heart thickens and stiffens, it may struggle to fill with and pump enough blood.
• Stroke: Blood clots caused by atrial fibrillation can travel to the brain and cause a stroke.
• Sudden cardiac death: If the heart beats too fast, it may suddenly stop, a condition called sudden cardiac arrest that can cause death.
• Ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation: Another potentially dangerous arrhythmia, ventricular tachycardia is when your ventricles beat rapidly.

Diagnosing hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Your doctor will ask about your personal and family medical history and your symptoms. They will also conduct a physical exam to check for signs of thickening of the heart muscle.

With hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a heart murmur is often a telltale sign that something is wrong. Your doctor will listen to your heart and check for murmurs and possibly order tests to look for evidence of thickening, stiffness or obstruction.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy treatment

Your doctor will determine how best to treat hypertrophic cardiomyopathy based on the type you have, how well your heart is working and whether you have any symptoms, among other factors. Treatment cannot cure the condition, but it can reduce symptoms and lower your risk for complications.

Your doctor will likely recommend changing your lifestyle to improve your heart health. They may prescribe medications to lower the heart rate and treat symptoms by helping your heart work better. If you have severe symptoms or lifestyle changes and medications haven’t helped, you may need surgery to address the condition and protect against complications.

Frequently asked questions