Sage-Tips

Does HCM get worse with age?

Patient age importantly dictates the clinical course for many patients with HCM. Aging in HCM, in effect, represents a negative risk marker for sudden death to many patients. HCM patients of advanced age are more likely to die of non-cardiac competing morbidities than of HCM.

Can you grow out of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?

ICDs can be associated with some side effects such as inappropriate shocks and low risk of infection. Also, patients cannot undergo an MRI of any part of the body with the device. (See ‘Arrhythmias’ below.) There is no cure for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

Is HCM reversible?

In conclusion, we show that external stress triggered by myocarditis can induce a reversible transition from a hypertrophic cardiomyopathy to a dilated cardiomyopathy phenotype.

Can you work with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?

However the majority of those with HCM can work productively and many use FMLA for the purpose of having surgical myectomy, ICD implantation, to adjust to new medications and in some case heart transplantion. Employment often times turns into how we see or define ourselves.

What gene causes HCM?

Mutations in one of several genes can cause familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; the most commonly involved genes are MYH7, MYBPC3, TNNT2, and TNNI3. Other genes, including some that have not been identified, may also be involved in this condition.

Are you born with HCM?

People are born with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Most commonly, the heart muscle thickens during the teenage years. However, symptoms of the disease can appear later in life. Many people with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy don’t know they have it, and the disease may not cause any symptoms.

Is HCM a terminal illness?

Potential Long-Term Complications of HCM This condition is also called “sudden cardiac death.” This is typically caused by a rapid heart rhythm known as ventricular tachycardia. Without emergency treatment, sudden cardiac arrest can be fatal. HCM is the leading cause of sudden cardiac death in people who are under 30.

Can HCM be misdiagnosed?

Many HCM patients are misdiagnosed as having anxiety attacks, panic attacks or some forms of depression only to find that the underlying cause of the symptoms is HCM.

Does HCM increase the risk of sudden cardiac death?

A small number of people with HCM have an increased risk of sudden cardiac death. People at risk include: If you have two or more risk factors for sudden cardiac death, your doctor will treat you with medications to prevent arrhythmias or with an ICD.

What lifestyle changes should I make if I have HCM?

If you’ve been diagnosed with HCM, you may have to make a few lifestyle adjustments, depending on the severity of the disease. Avoid strenuous exercise, especially intense, competitive sports and heavy weight lifting. Stay well-hydrated, as dehydration can exacerbate HCM.

What are the symptoms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)?

This may lead to stiffening of the walls of the heart and abnormal aortic and mitral heart valve function, both of which may impede normal blood flow out of the heart. What Are the Symptoms of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy? Many people with HCM have no symptoms or only minor symptoms, and live a normal life.

What is the difference between hypertrophic and nonobstructive HCM?

Most people with HCM have this type. In nonobstructive HCM, the heart’s main pumping chamber still becomes stiff. This limits how much blood the ventricle can take in and pump out, but blood flow is not blocked. Some people with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy don’t have symptoms.