Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a heart condition that causes the heart muscle to thicken or enlarge, making it difficult for the heart to pump blood. This condition causes thickening and stiffness of the ventricles, mitral valve changes & cellular changes.

Generally this condition develops during teenage years, but can start at any age.

HCM is often caused by changes in the genes that make the heart muscle thicken.

Apart from genetic factors, age & high blood pressure can also lead to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In some cases, the cause remains unknown.

Patients with HCM may exhibit a range of symptoms or none at all. Common symptoms noticed in HCM are:

Pain or discomfort in the chest

Difficulty breathing

Passing out

Palpitations

Abnormal heartbeat or arrhythmias

Inflammation in the lower body or in the veins of the neck

Most people with HCM lead normal lives & do not have any complications. They may not even need any treatment other than not straining themselves through intense exercise.

But in some cases, patients with HCM tend to develop heart conditions that may impact their quality of life. These include:

Heart failure means that your heart is unable to do its job (of pumping blood) effectively. Heart failure may present as the following symptoms:

Breathlessness

Fatigue

Need to urinate while resting

Difficulty concentrating

Dizziness or fainting spells

Dry cough

Bloated or upset stomach

Thickened heart muscle blocks the blood flow leading to shortness of breath, dizziness & even fainting.

When the blood flow gets blocked, the valve between the left atrium & left ventricle might not close properly. This can result in mitral valve regurgitation.

This refers to sudden loss of heart function caused by abnormally fast heartbeat (also known as ventricular tachycardia). This is may require CPR or defibrillation. If the patient, at this point, does not get the treatment, sudden cardiac death can occur.

The chances of patients with HCM having a sudden cardiac death are very low. However, HCM is known to be the most common cause of sudden cardiac death in individuals under the age of 35. HCM is also known for its role in cardiac arrest in young athletes.

To reach a diagnosis your doctor would ask you about your symptoms, family & personal medical history. He or she may also perform a physical exam and recommend a few tests such as:

Echocardiogram

Electrocardiogram

Cardiac MRI

Stress Test

In treating HCM, your cardiologist’s aim would be to relieve symptoms & prevent sudden cardiac death in individuals with high risk. Treatment may involve:

Medications

Implantable cardioverter defibrillator

Septal Myectomy

Septal Ablation

Limit fluid & sodium intake

Exercise with care

Follow up regularly with your doctor

Lower your risk of infection

Dr Sudheer Koganti is the best cardiologist in Hyderabad & offers the best treatment for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.