The main characteristic of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the presence of abnormal thickening of the heart muscle. In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, muscle enlargement is more exaggerated than in cases of arterial hypertension or prolonged physical training, and appears in the absence of a specific cause.
The vast majority of patients inherit this disease and it is usually transmitted from parents to children without skipping generations. Each child of an affected person has approximately a 50% chance of inheriting the disease and it usually develops during adolescence.
What are the symptoms?
There is no single symptom that is unique for detecting hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and many patients have no symptoms at all. However, the most frequent are shortness of breath, chest pain, palpitations, dizziness and loss of consciousness.
How is it diagnosed?
Currently, the diagnosis is made after performing an echocardiogram. Other tests may be necessary to evaluate the symptoms, assess the risk of complications, especially the risk of sudden death, and select the most appropriate treatment (stress test, 24-hour Holter ECG, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, catheterization, electrophysiological study, etc.).
What is the treatment and prognosis?
Treatment is aimed at improving symptoms and preventing complications. Although this disease is incurable, there are many forms of treatment available, which usually alleviate symptoms. Many people do not require treatment. Although sudden death is the most feared complication of MH, it is a relatively infrequent phenomenon and can be prevented in most patients. In the most exceptional cases, implantation of an internal defibrillator (ICD) is usually recommended.
For most patients, having cardiomyopathy does not interfere with their quality of life. It is always recommended to have check-ups by a cardiologist and to follow a series of general advice, as well as to avoid competitive physical exertion or strenuous exertion.