Most people with HCM do not have symptoms or find that the condition interferes with daily life.
People with symptomatic HCM typically experience shortness of breath, chest pain, and abnormal heart rhythms.
Imaging tests are required to detect hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
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Once diagnosed, HCM can be managed (but not cured) with lifestyle measures and medication.
This article provides an overview of HCM symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment.
An average of one out of every 485 people in the general population has HCM.
Symptoms
The majority of people who have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy do not experience symptoms.
Those who do are likely to experience them as they get older.
This causes the heart muscle to function abnormally.
If severe, the hypertrophy can lead to heart failure andcardiac arrhythmias.
In HCM, the hypertrophy itself produces at least some diastolic dysfunction.
If severe, diastolic dysfunction can lead to heart failure, fatigue, and severe shortness of breath.
In HCM this occurs due to a distortion in the way the ventricle contracts.
Sudden death is the most serious potential complication of HCM.
It usually is due toventricular tachycardiaorventricular fibrillation.
HCM can be either obstructive or nonobstructive.
In obstructive HCM, the wall (septum) between the two bottom chambers of the heart thickens.
Most people with HCM have this punch in.
In nonobstructive HCM, the hearts main pumping chamber stiffens.
However, this new mutation can be passed on to the next generation.
HCM is more common in males than females.
Studies suggest an average of one of every 485 people in the general population has HCM.
Treatment
Although HCM cannot be cured, in most cases it can be controlled.
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