What is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
Also called hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy occurs when the wall of the heart, the septum, that separates the two ventricles is swollen or abnormally large. This results in a blockage of blood from the left ventricle. In addition, the swollen septum causes damage to the heart’s valves, making it leak. In another form of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, called non-obstructive cardiomyopathy, the septum doesn’t cause blockage. This form is generally harmless.
What Causes Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy?
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is largely hereditary and most often occurs in children, teenagers, and young adults. In fact, it is the main cause in sudden death from heart failure in people under 30. When seemingly healthy professional athletes die, it is most often from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Occasionally, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the result of high blood pressure, and in some cases the cause remains unknown.
What Are the Symptoms?
As with many heart conditions, the symptoms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may not present themselves until treatment is required. Other times, a person has no symptoms at all, or they are very mild and do not occur often. This is often the case with non-obstructive cardiomyopathy.
In those who do have symptoms, however, the most common include:
Angina. Angina, or chest pain, is one symptom of hypertrophic cardiomypathy. In most cases, the feelings of chest pain usually happen during exercise, but in some cases it can occur while at rest or without exertion.
Shortness of breath and extreme fatigue. Shortness of breath and feelings of fatigue, most often during physical activity, are common with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, caused by the reduced flow of blood to the lungs.
Fainting spells. While this is not a common side effect of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, fainting spells can occur in about 20 percent of those with cardiomyopathy as a result of reduced blood flow to the brain the blockage causes.
Irregular heartbeats. Arrhythmia, or the irregular beating of the heart, is a common symptom. Oftentimes, people with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy will experience a very fast or very slow heartbeat.
Palpitations. Palpitations, or the feeling that the heart is pounding or fluttering, are often a result of the du to abnormal heart rhythms caused by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Sudden death. In rare cases, the obstruction of the blood flow will lead to sudden death.
How is it Diagnosed?
In determining whether a person has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a doctor will perform a number of tests. First, he will assess the person’s symptoms and medical history. Since hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is largely hereditary, whether or not the patient has a family history of the disease will help with the diagnosis. The doctor will also use a stethoscope to listen to the heart and lungs. Often, people with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy have heart murmurs, and the doctor will be able to tell with the stethoscope.
In addition to a physical, the doctor may order additional tests for a clearer diagnosis. The most common include:
Electrocardiogram (ECG). An ECG measures the electrical activity of the heart. Electrodes are attached to the chest and occasionally other major arteries in the body and then measure the timing of your heart’s electrical outputs.
Echocardiogram. During an echocardiogram, a transducer is placed on your chest to display images of your heart’s structure and motion.
Chest X-ray. The chest x-ray allows the doctor to see the heart and its surroundings.
Once a proper diagnosis has been made, the doctor can discuss the best forms of treatment.