Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Advocate Health Care brings together a diverse team of specialists to treat hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) – a genetic disease of the heart muscle. If you’ve been diagnosed with HCM, our integrated team of experts works together to deliver a comprehensive approach to HCM heart treatment for a lifetime of care.

As the walls of the heart thicken, there’s a possibility of serious health risks including blood clots, stroke, abnormal rhythms or even heart failure. But many living with HCM lead normal lives with no significant complications or symptoms.

What causes hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?

The main cause of HCM is abnormal changes in the genes in your heart. These abnormalities are inherited. It’s also possible to develop HCM from high blood pressure.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy symptoms

Often with HCM, you might not have any signs or symptoms. If you do experience symptoms, they may occur after eating, especially after a large meal. HCM symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath
• Heart palpitations
• Dizziness or fainting
• Chest pain
• Arrhythmia
• Rarely, cardiac arrest

You may not realize you have HCM until you develop an arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm) or go into sudden cardiac arrest (when the heart stops beating).

Call 911 immediately if you think you are experiencing a heart attack.

At what age does hypertrophic cardiomyopathy develop?

HCM can develop at any age. Approximately 1 in 500 people have HCM, though it’s likely more common since many don’t know they have it.

Because HCM is genetic, children of an affected person have a 50% chance of inheriting it. If one of your parents, siblings or children has been diagnosed with HCM, it’s important to have your doctor check you and your entire family for the condition.

How fast does hypertrophic cardiomyopathy progress?

HCM is a disease that can be stable for a long period of time, then suddenly change. Genetics and lifestyle factors may play a role in how the disease progresses.

If you’re diagnosed with HCM, prioritizing a healthy lifestyle is important to maintaining your health. It's also important to stay on track with your regular cardiology appointments.

Diagnosing hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

HCM requires skill and experience to diagnose. Our team of cardiologists and other specialists base their diagnosis on the following:

• Personal health history: We’ll review your medical record, including any signs and symptoms.
• Family history: Since HCM is usually inherited, we’ll ask about your family’s health, especially any incidence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, heart failure or cardiac arrest.
• Physical exam: This includes checking your overall health and listening to your heart and lungs, specifically for a murmur in your heart created by turbulent blood moving through the thickened area.
• Echocardiogram: This ultrasound test generates a picture of your heart. Your doctor may also want to perform an echocardiogram during or after exercise to look at how your heart functions under stress.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG): This test tracks your heart’s electrical rhythms. In some cases, your doctor may ask you to wear an ECG for 24 hours or longer to detect any rhythm disturbances.
• Cardiac MRI: This test uses magnets and radio waves to create a 3D picture of your heart.
• Genetic testing: We’ll likely recommend this for you and your family because HCM is an inherited condition.

Treating hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Typically, our doctors base HCM treatment on any symptoms present and the disease's progression. We’ll work with you in developing your personalized plan of care. We monitor our patients closely to identify these changes early and provide the most appropriate treatment.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy treatment options may be nonsurgical or surgical.

Nonsurgical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy treatments

Medications are often the primary treatment in patients with HCM. Your doctor may prescribe medications to reduce stress on the heart muscle. Because heart rhythm problems can also occur in patients with HCM, treatment may include medications to correct an irregular heartbeat or prevent blood clots.

In addition to medications, your doctor may recommend limiting your intake of sodium, alcohol and caffeine.

You may also be asked to modify your exercise regimen to limit strenuous exercise. If you qualify, our cardiac rehabilitation program includes cardiologists and exercise physiologists who work with you to help you understand your risks related to exercise. This is especially important for athletes.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy surgery

Surgical treatments for HCM include:

• Reduction of the thickened heart tissue to improve blood flow through the heart. At Advocate Heart Institute, we perform an open surgical procedure, called a myectomy, to remove the thickened heart tissue. We also offer a less invasive technique called alcohol septal ablation. This procedure uses alcohol injected through a catheter, or tube, to shrink the muscle tissue. Learn more about these procedures that are performed by our cardiovascular surgery and interventional cardiology teams.
• Surgically implanted devices to correct an abnormal heart rhythm. These include defibrillators, pacemakers or cardiac resynchronization devices. Find out more about these treatments that are offered through Advocate’s heart rhythm care program.
• Heart transplant to replace a heart that is no longer functioning. HCM may progress to end-stage heart failure where a transplant or ventricular assist device may be needed. Read more about our heart transplant program.

HCM diagnosis & treatment in young people

Though rare, the first symptom of HCM may be cardiac arrest. In young people and athletes, HCM is one of the most common causes of sudden cardiac death.

Early identification of HCM is critical. Advocate’s Young Hearts for Life program offers cardiac screening for local high school students. We also make it easy to schedule an appointment with a cardiologist near you.