Living with undiagnosed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) can be dangerous. Without knowing your status, you could be at risk of a serious medical emergency, like cardiac arrest.
HCM may not cause symptoms for some. That means people may live with it for years without knowing.
What are symptoms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
When people do have HCM symptoms, they may include:
Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Chest pressure
Dizziness
Fainting
Racing heart
What triggers symptoms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
In general, HCM symptoms tend to occur during physical activity or stress. The heart needs to work harder when you’re active, whether that’s walking up the stairs or playing soccer. Your blood flow may be reduced or blocked if you have HCM, which makes the heart have to work even harder.
Another trigger for HCM symptoms is dehydration. Staying hydrated helps maintain a normal volume of blood. When you’re dehydrated, you may have less blood to reach all your body’s tissues, and your blood pressure may drop. This can cause or worsen HCM symptoms like dizziness.
What causes hypertrophic cardiomyopathy symptoms?
HCM symptoms tend to occur due to obstruction. “Hypertrophic” tissue in the heart refers to abnormal and excess tissue growth. This extra tissue makes the walls of the heart unusually thick.
The walls of the heart may be so thick that they actually block the aortic valve. This is how blood leaves the heart before going to other parts of the body. People who have this blockage have a subtype of HCM known as obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
How do hypertrophic cardiomyopathy symptoms affect quality of life?
Without treatment, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy symptoms is more likely to affect everyday life. People may find that they’re unable to be as active as they want or need to be.
After receiving a diagnosis of HCM, people may need to make some lifestyle changes. In general, doctors do not recommend participating in competitive sports or intense exercise if you have HCM. There are also medications and procedures that can help manage symptoms.
“While we can't cure hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, we have a number of medications and that list is actually growing,” says Sirish Vullaganti, MD, Cardiologist at Northwell Health. “These have been shown to improve quality of life significantly.”
Dr. Vullaganti is a Cardiologist and the Director of Heart Failure at Lenox Hill Hospital, Northwell Health.
References
American College of Cardiology. (2020). Treatment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: What every cardiologist needs to know.
American Heart Association. (2024). Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).
MedlinePlus. (2023). Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
MedlinePlus. (2024). Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Watso, J. C., et al. (2019). Hydration status and cardiovascular function. Nutrients.
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