Medication
What Is the Life Expectancy for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy? The majority of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy have no symptoms and most have a near-normal life expectancy. In some cases, sudden cardiac death is the first symptom of the illness. Patients who have symptoms at a younger age often have higher mortality rates.
Procedures
Rarely, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can cause heart-related sudden death in people of all ages. Because many people with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy don't realize they have it, sudden cardiac death may be the first sign of a problem. It can happen in seemingly healthy young people, including high school athletes and other young, active adults.
Self-care
There are some other methods of treatment as well, but unfortunately, there is no medicine or surgery procedure that can cure hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Sources & Links Important notification about information and brand names
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When treating cardiomyopathy, objectives include:
- Stopping the disease from getting worse
- Managing any conditions that cause or contribute to the disease
- Reducing complications and the risk of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)
- Controlling symptoms so that you can live as normally as possible
What is the life expectancy of someone with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
How bad is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
Can hypertrophic cardiomyopathy be cured?
How to effectively treat cardiomyopathy?
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How is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy cured?
There is no cure for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). However, several treatments are available to relieve or eliminate symptoms and provide protection against sudden death, providing the vast majority of HCM patients the opportunity to achieve normal longevity with an excellent quality of life.
How serious is hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy?
Sudden cardiac death. Rarely, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can cause heart-related sudden death in people of all ages. Because many people with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy don't realize they have it, sudden cardiac death might be the first sign of the condition.
Who treats obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
Of those diagnosed, two-thirds have obstructive HCM and one-third have non-obstructive HCM. A cardiologist or pediatric cardiologist often diagnoses and treats HCM. You may also be referred to a cardiomyopathy center where the health care team has specialized training.
What is the drug of choice for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
Amiodarone is safe and effective in HCM patients, and is considered the drug of choice in most instances.
How long can you live with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
Mean age at HCM death was 56 years (range, 7-87 years); 21 deaths (72%) were considered premature, occurring before age 75 years (Figure 1). The other 8 patients (28%) died of HCM at age 76 to 87 years and, therefore, achieved statistical life expectancy (Figure 1).
Is HOCM considered heart failure?
HOCM can lead to clinical heart failure, life-threatening arrhythmias, mitral regurgitation and sudden cardiac death.
What medications should be avoided with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
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.
What exercise can you do with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
Current guidelines recommend restricting competitive sports participation for individuals with HCM to low-static/low-dynamic sports such as golf or bowling,1-3 and vigorous recreational exercise has also been recommended against.
How do you reverse hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
Lifestyle Changes for Hypertrophic CardiomyopathyExercise as Recommended. Regular exercise reduces heart rate and blood pressure and provides overall health benefits. ... Monitor Blood Pressure. ... Eat Healthfully. ... Limit Alcohol Consumption. ... Control Diabetes. ... Manage Stress. ... Quit Smoking.
What is the latest treatment for cardiomyopathy?
Mavacamten, a new investigational cardiac medication, may improve heart function for people with thickened heart muscle leading to obstructed blood flow through the heart, a condition known as obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Is beta blocker good for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
Beta-blockers Beta adrenergic blockers remain an evidence-based mainstay of therapy for HCM, both with and without outflow obstruction at rest.
How do you treat thickened heart muscle?
Alcohol septal ablation (nonsurgical procedure): Ethanol (a type of alcohol) is injected through a tube into the small artery that supplies blood to the area of heart muscle thickened by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The alcohol causes these cells to die. The thickened tissue shrinks to a more normal size.
What is a HOCM?
HOCM is a significant cause of sudden cardiac death in young people , including well-trained athletes, and affects men and women equally across all races.
What causes a HOCM?
Other causes of HOCM include: 1 Heightened sympathetic stimulation due to excess catecholamine secretion or decreased uptake 2 Abnormally thickened coronary arteries which may not dilate normally. This may lead to ongoing myocardial ischemia, that eventually leads to ventricular fibrosis and compensatory hypertrophy 3 Abnormal microcirculation that prevents the normal contractile function of the myofibrils
What is HOCM in sports?
HOCM is a significant cause of sudden cardiac death in young people, including well-trained athletes, affecting men and women equally across all races.
Where does HOCM occur?
The hypertrophy can occur in any segment of the left ventricle but is most common in the interventricular septum. This often results in obstruction of blood flow through the left ventricular outflow tract. HOCM is a genetic disorder. Defects in several genes have been identified that result in septal hypertrophy.
Is HOCM asymptomatic or asymptomatic?
The condition is usually asymptomatic in children but may first present with sudden death in teenagers and adolescents. Etiology. The familial form of HOCM is an autosomal dominant genetically transmitted disorder. It is the most common genetically transmitted cardiomyopathy.
Is HOCM a sudden death?
Death is often sudden and typically associated with a sporting activity. Screening of first degree relatives is now done to identify individuals at high risk for death. Patients with HOCM may develop a variety of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. Heart failure is likely in patients with severe diastolic dysfunction.
How many people are affected by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy affects an estimated 600,000 to 1.5 million Americans, or one in 500 people. It is more prevalent than multiple sclerosis, which affects one in 700 people.
What is the name of the disease that affects the heart muscle?
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a complex type of heart disease that affects the heart muscle. It causes thickening of the heart muscle (especially the ventricles, or lower heart chambers), left ventricular stiffness, mitral valve changes and cellular changes. Thickening of the heart muscle (myocardium) occurs most commonly at the septum.
What is the HOCM?
This type of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may be called hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). HCM also may cause thickening in other parts of the heart muscle, such as the bottom of the heart called the apex, right ventricle, or throughout the entire left ventricle. Normal Heart. Stiffness in the left ventricle occurs as a result ...
What is HCM screening?
Screening. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a medical condition that may be passed on from generation to generation. It is important for you or your family members to have screening if you have a first-degree relative with the condition. First-degree relatives are your parents, siblings and children.
What is the term for the abnormal heart rhythm?
Through a microscope, the cells appear disorganized and irregular (called “disarray”) instead of being organized and parallel. This disarray may cause changes in the electrical signals traveling through the lower chambers of the heart and lead to ventricular arrhythmia (a type of abnormal heart rhythm).
Do HCM patients have a higher risk of sudden cardiac death?
However, it is important to identify the small number of patients with HCM who do have a higher risk for sudden cardiac death, so preventive measures can be taken. People with HCM who have a higher risk for sudden cardiac death include: Patients who have a family history of sudden cardiac death.
Can you die from HCM?
Unless emergency treatments, including CPR and defibrillation, are initiated immediately after the onset of symptoms, sudden cardiac death can occur. Most people with HCM have a low risk for sudden cardiac death. However, HCM is the most common cause of sudden cardiac death in people under age 30.
What to do if you have hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy?
They may suggest septal myectomy, which is a form of surgery to remove part of the thickened muscle, or septal ablation, which uses alcohol to destroy part of the thickened heart muscle. These procedures can now be performed by keyhole techniques in appropriate patients. These treatments should be delivered by a team of individuals with interest and experience in the treatment of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. This team is a combination of specialist cardiologists, geneticists, and surgeons who work collaboratively to optimise your treatment.
Can you have a lifelong assessment for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy?
If you have hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy you will need lifelong assessment by a specialist team. If you have a close family member who has been diagnosed with the condition, then you should discuss genetic and cardiac screening with you doctor. The treatment of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy has improved considerably and modern surgical treatments can often be delivered by keyhole techniques. Contact us to arrange an assessment at The Keyhole Essex Heart Clinic.
What Is Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy?
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is an inherited disease caused by mutations in genes related to the proteins that make up heart muscle. HCM causes the walls of the left ventricle to become thickened, called left ventricular hypertrophy. This thickening can prevent the heart from pumping oxygen-rich blood to the body.
Treatment Options for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Treatment options for HCM include lifestyle modification, medication, and surgery, as well as the use of noninvasive procedures and implantable devices (such as pacemakers).
What Determines the Best Treatment for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy?
Current guidelines for treating HCM recommend first-line treatments and advanced treatments based on specific circumstances. Medication is always the first choice, and the medications used depend on the features of HCM that are present. Surgical procedures and implantable devices are used when medication fails to achieve treatment goals.
New Treatments Are on the Horizon
Existing treatments for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are constantly being studied and refined, but new treatments are rare. A new drug called mavacamten is the first drug of its kind, a cardiac myosin inhibitor designed specifically to treat HCM.
Summary
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can be a very complicated disease to treat, requiring care from cardiologists and other physicians who specialize in treating HCM. However, there are many effective treatments available for HCM that can improve day-to-day life and allow people with HCM to live a normal life span.
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What is the treatment for heart rhythm abnormalities?
Sometimes patients will be placed on drugs such as beta-blockers (metoprolol, atenolol, etc) to prevent heart rhythm abnormalities and to relax the heart. Patients may require surgery or a cardiac catheterization procedure ( angiogram) to remove the excess muscle tissue in the heart.
What is a HOCM?
Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy (HOCM) is a cardiac abnormality which leads to the muscle in the wall of the heart growing and thickening to the point that it blocks blood flow exiting the heart.
What is the best treatment for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
Medical Therapy. Medical treatments for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy include beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers to help relax the hypertrophied heart muscle and to slow the heart rate which allows for better heart function.
What is the treatment for irregular heartbeat?
Depending on the type of arrhythmia, other treatments may include blood thinners, a pacemaker, or an implantable defibrillator (to reduce risk of sudden death).
Can alcohol septal ablation be used for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy?
In selected patients, Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy can be treated by alcohol septal ablation by causing necrosis of the obstructive muscle. It is usually reserved for patients at too high risk for surgery and who have a large coronary artery in that area of the septum. Click to enlarge.
What is the best way to help the heart work?
Surgically implanted devices – Surgeons can implant several types of devices to help the heart work better, including: Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) – An ICD helps maintain a normal heartbeat by sending an electric shock to the heart if an irregular heartbeat is detected.
What doctor treats HCM?
A cardiologist or pediatric cardiologist often diagnoses and treats HCM. You may also be referred to a cardiomyopathy center where the health care team has specialized training. HCM is diagnosed based on your medical history, family history, a physical exam and diagnostic test results.
What is the cause of a thickened heart chamber?
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is most often caused by abnormal genes in the heart muscle . These genes cause the walls of the heart chamber (left ventricle) to contract harder and become thicker than normal. The thickened walls become stiff.
How do you know if you have HCM?
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.
What is the procedure called when alcohol is injected into the heart muscle?
Alcohol septal ablation (nonsurgical procedure) – In this procedure, ethanol (a type of alcohol) is injected through a tube into the small artery that supplies blood to the area of heart muscle thickened by HCM. The alcohol causes these cells to die. The thickened tissue shrinks to a more normal size.
What is the test for heart disease?
Diagnostic Tests. Diagnosis is typically done by echocardiogram. It checks the thickness of the heart muscle and blood flow from the heart. In some cases, another type of echocardiogram, transesophageal echo (or TEE), may be performed.
Is there a medication for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
There are currently no disease-specific medications for hypertrophic cardiomyo pathy.#N#For people with HCM who don’t have symptoms, lifestyle changes and medications for conditions that may contribute to cardiovascular disease are recommended.#N#For those with symptoms, the focus is on symptom management using medications and procedures.
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