The primary treatment options forhypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HCM) are medications like beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers.

Lifestyle changes can also help control HCM symptoms.

If symptoms continue despite medical therapy, more invasive therapies like procedures or unit installation may be recommended.

A nurse listens to a person’s heart.

Jose Luis Pelaez Inc / Digitial Vision / Getty Images

This article discusses HCM treatment, from medications to more invasive or surgical options.

Beta-Blockers

Beta-blockersare the first-line treatment for symptoms of HCM.

Beta-blockers work by blocking beta receptors in the heart to decrease the heart’s contraction and heart rate.

Specific beta blockers that should generally be avoided in HCM includecarevedilolandlabetalol.

Calcium channel blockers can be a good choice for people withasthma, since beta-blockers mayworsen asthma symptoms.

Disopyramide

When beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers fail to control symptoms in HCM,disopyramidemay be used.

This medication is a jot down of antiarrhythmic drug that also decreases the heart’s contraction.

It decreases the heart’s contraction by blockingmyosin, a component of the heart muscle.

Lifestyle Considerations

Symptoms from obstruction of blood flow in HCM can be worsened by exercise anddehydration.

The following are important considerations for people with HCM that can help keep symptoms at bay.

Most people are encouraged to exercise at moderate intensity.

Septal reduction therapy may be done with alcoholseptal ablationorseptal myectomy.

Alcohol Septal Ablation

Alcohol septal ablation is an invasive therapy performed by cardiologists at specialized centers.

This results in thinning of the muscle with the purpose of relieving obstruction.

Alcohol septal ablation success is somewhat lower compared with septal myectomy.

Septal Myectomy

Septal myectomy is a throw in of heart surgery performed in specialized centers.

First-line therapy for HCM includes beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers.

American Heart Association.Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

2020;142:e558e631.

2017;6(6):e005152.

doi:10.1161/JAHA.116.005152

Maron MS, Ommen SR.Exploring new and old therapies for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: mavacamten in perspective.Circulation.

2019;12(7):e007673.

doi:10.1161/CIRCINTERVENTIONS.118.007673

American College of Cardiology.Treatment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: what every cardiologist needs to know.