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About Cardiomyopathies
What are Cardiomyopathies?
Cardiomyopathies are a group of inherited heart diseases that cause the heart muscle to become abnormally enlarged, thickened, and /or stiffened diminishing the heart’s ability to function and creating the potential for arrhythmias. In some patients, cardiomyopathies cause noticeable symptoms from an early age, but in others they can go undetected for years until unexpectedly causing symptoms. Cardiomyopathies can cause the heart to beat irregularly causing symptoms such as fainting or seizures and lead to the diagnosis of potentially dangerous conditions, such as:
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)
What is HCM?
HCM is a disease in which the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick or ”hypertrophied,” most often affecting the left ventricle. The left ventricle supplies oxygen rich blood to the rest of the body. HCM may make it difficult for the heart to pump enough blood throughout the body, especially during physician exertion. HCM may also affect the heart’s electrical system leading to an irregular heartbeat and altered mechanical function. Typical symptoms of HCM include shortness of breath, chest pain and/or fainting especially during exercise or physician exertion.
Diagnosing HCM
Diagnosing HCM can be challenging. Your physician may suspect you have HCM based on hearing a heart murmur, the symptoms you are experiencing and/or based on specific abnormal findings on diagnostic tests such as an echocardiogram. HCM is most commonly diagnosed with an echocardiogram. The echocardiogram uses sound waves to produce image of the heart allowing your doctor to see if there is any abnormal thickness of the heart or any obstructed blood flow. Diagnosing HCM as early as possible is important to help your physician provide the most appropriate treatment as well as prevent possible complications.
Treating HCM
Treatments are available that can improve symptoms and help better manage HCM. Some treatment options include:
- Medications that may help relax the heart muscle and slow your heart rate so that your heart can pump more effectively.
- Implantation of a device called an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD).
- Surgical options to reduce the size of the obstruction.
1-877-2-PGXHEALTH (877-274-9432)
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