Sage-Tips

Is thickening of the heart wall serious?

The thickened heart muscle can make it harder for the heart to pump blood. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy often goes undiagnosed because many people with the disease have few, if any, symptoms and can lead normal lives with no significant problems.

What medication below would you avoid in a patient with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy Hocm?

Agents to reduce pre- or afterload (such as nitrate, ACE inhibitors, nifedipine-type calcium antagonists) are contraindicated with HOCM due to possible aggravation of the outflow tract obstruction.

How do you improve hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?

Lifestyle Changes for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

1. Exercise as Recommended. Regular exercise reduces heart rate and blood pressure and provides overall health benefits.
2. Monitor Blood Pressure.
3. Eat Healthfully.
4. Limit Alcohol Consumption.
5. Control Diabetes.
6. Manage Stress.
7. Quit Smoking.

Is heart thickening reversible?

Treatment. There is no treatment which can reverse the changes of the heart muscle. Treatment aims to ease symptoms if they occur and to prevent complications. If you do not have any symptoms or you only have mild symptoms then you may not need any treatment.

How long do you live with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?

Research has shown that with proper treatment and follow-ups, most people with HCM live a normal life. A database of 1,297 patients with HCM from the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation identified that 2\% of the patients can live past 90 years, and 69\% of them were women.

How do you reverse heart wall thickening?

What are the symptoms of a thickened heart muscle?

Signs and symptoms of HCM include:

• Chest pain, especially with physical exertion.
• Shortness of breath, especially with physical exertion.
• Fatigue.
• Arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms)
• Dizziness.
• Lightheadedness.
• Fainting (syncope)
• Swelling in the ankles, feet, legs, abdomen and veins in the neck.

Can high blood pressure cause thickening of the heart?

High blood pressure means the pressure inside the blood vessels (called arteries) is too high. As the heart pumps against this pressure, it must work harder. Over time, this causes the heart muscle to thicken.

What are the treatment options for thickening of the heart?

An operation called surgical myectomy may be done. In some cases, people may be given an injection of alcohol into the arteries that feed the thickened part of the heart (alcohol septal ablation). People who have this procedure often show much improvement. You may need surgery to repair the heart’s mitral valve if it is leaking.

What does it mean when you feel heaviness in your chest?

Feeling heaviness in the chest can result from various mental and physical health conditions. People often associate a heavy feeling in the chest with heart problems, but this discomfort can be a sign of anxiety or depression. A feeling of heaviness is one way that a person may describe chest pain or discomfort.

What is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and why is it dangerous?

Often, only one part of the heart is thicker than the other parts. The thickening can make it harder for blood to leave the heart, forcing the heart to work harder to pump blood. It also can make it harder for the heart to relax and fill with blood. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is most often passed down through families (inherited).

What to do if your chest feels heavy all the time?

Treatment. Seeing a doctor. Feeling heaviness in the chest can result from various mental and physical health conditions. People often associate a heavy feeling in the chest with heart problems, but this discomfort can be a sign of anxiety or depression.