About obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

What is obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a disease in which the heart muscle becomes thickened (hypertrophied). 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. However, in a small number of people with HCM, the thickened heart muscle can cause shortness of breath, chest pain or changes in the heart's electrical system, resulting in life-threatening irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias) or sudden death.

What are the symptoms for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?

Obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a condition that causes the heart to thicken. It can make it difficult for blood to flow through, which can cause symptoms like Shortness of breath or Chest pain.

If you have symptoms of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, it's important to talk with your doctor about them. They'll be able to help you figure out if you should get tested for it.

The symptoms of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy include:

* Chest pain and Shortness of breath

* Fatigue and Weakness

* Palpitations (Unusually fast heartbeat)

Shortness of breath during exercise or exertion

Fatigue and Weakness

Dizziness or Lightheadedness

* Sudden Weight gain due to Swelling in the legs and abdomen due to fluid retention (edema)

* Swelling in hands and feet

* Swelling in legs caused by a buildup of fluid (peripheral edema)

Symptoms
Fatigue,Excessive Sweating or Shortness of breath (hyperventilation) with exertion,Chest pain or discomfort when exercising or at res,Heart Palpitations (skipped beats),Swelling in legs and feet due to fluid buildup (edema),Shortness of breath,Fatigue (extreme tiredness),Dizziness or Lightheadedness,Palpitations (a racing or fluttering sensation in the chest)
Conditions
Hypertension,Atherosclerosis,Diabetes mellitus,Coronary heart disease (CHD) leading to myocardial infarction (MI)
Drugs
Amiodarone

What are the causes for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?

Obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a type of heart disease in which the walls of the heart become thickened, usually due to the build-up of scar tissue. The exact causes for this condition are not known, but it can be hereditary or caused by an underlying condition such as high blood pressure or diabetes.

  • The most common cause of OHC is coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD occurs when one or more arteries that supply blood to the heart become blocked. This can cause the heart muscle to weaken and die, which leads to OHC.
  • Aging: As we age, our bodies naturally begin to experience wear and tear on their various systems. This includes our cardiovascular system, which can lead to OHC as you get older.
  • Genetics: In some cases, OHC has been shown to run in families—meaning that if one parent has it, there's an increased chance that their children will develop it too.
  • High blood pressure: If you have high blood pressure for an extended period of time, this can damage your arteries and contribute to the development of OHC.
Symptoms
Fatigue,Excessive sweating or shortness of breath (hyperventilation) with exertion,Chest pain or discomfort when exercising or at res,Heart palpitations (skipped beats),Swelling in legs and feet due to fluid buildup (edema),Shortness of breath,Fatigue (extreme tiredness),Dizziness or lightheadedness,Palpitations (a racing or fluttering sensation in the chest)
Conditions
Hypertension,Atherosclerosis,Diabetes mellitus,Coronary heart disease (CHD) leading to myocardial infarction (MI)
Drugs
Amiodarone

What are the treatments for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?

There are two main treatments for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, but they're not always mutually exclusive.

The first is surgery.

  • It can be done either transcatheter (percutaneous) or open-heart.
    •The former is generally used for patients who are younger and have milder symptoms, while the latter is usually considered for older patients or those with more severe symptoms.
    •Percutaneous septal ablation is a procedure that involves inserting a catheter through an artery in the groin and then inflating it to create a bubble in the wall between the left ventricle and aorta.
    •The bubble causes scarring, which closes off the opening between these two chambers. This procedure has been shown to be effective at relieving obstruction in people with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy who also have high blood pressure (hypertension).
    •Open-heart surgery may involve removing part of the heart muscle and patching up holes in other parts of it—but this can come with some serious risks: bleeding, infection, lung problems and even death.
  • Implantable devices are small pumps that can help increase blood flow to your heart muscle when needed.
    •They may also help control abnormal heart rhythms that cause sudden death in HCM patients who don't have an ICD already implanted in their chest wall.
  • These include diuretics, beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors.
    •They help lower blood pressure and heart rate, reducing stress on the heart.
    •They also help to reduce symptoms of shortness of breath and chest pain.
Symptoms
Fatigue,Excessive sweating or shortness of breath (hyperventilation) with exertion,Chest pain or discomfort when exercising or at res,Heart palpitations (skipped beats),Swelling in legs and feet due to fluid buildup (edema),Shortness of breath,Fatigue (extreme tiredness),Dizziness or lightheadedness,Palpitations (a racing or fluttering sensation in the chest)
Conditions
Hypertension,Atherosclerosis,Diabetes mellitus,Coronary heart disease (CHD) leading to myocardial infarction (MI)
Drugs
Amiodarone

What are the risk factors for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?

Obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart. It's characterized by an enlarged heart that has thickened walls and high pressure, which can cause symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, and even chest pain.

The risk factors for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy include:

  • Age: Obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can occur at any age but is most common in middle-aged adults or older.
  • Sex: Women are more likely than men to develop obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
  • Race: African Americans are more likely than whites or Hispanics to develop this condition.
  • Genetics: Family members of people with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy have an increased risk of developing it as well.
  • A family history of the condition
    •Age (the disease is most common in adults)
    •Having a heart attack or stroke
    •Having high blood pressure or diabetes
    •Obesity or being overweight
    •Diabetes mellitus
    •Hypertension
    •High blood cholesterol
    •Coronary artery disease
    •Diabetes mellitus
    •Hypertension
    •Ischemic cardiomyopathy
    •Heart failure
    •Atrial fibrillation
    •Heart valve problems
    •Blood clots in the heart muscle and/or blood vessels
    •Heart attack
Symptoms
Fatigue,Excessive sweating or shortness of breath (hyperventilation) with exertion,Chest pain or discomfort when exercising or at res,Heart palpitations (skipped beats),Swelling in legs and feet due to fluid buildup (edema),Shortness of breath,Fatigue (extreme tiredness),Dizziness or lightheadedness,Palpitations (a racing or fluttering sensation in the chest)
Conditions
Hypertension,Atherosclerosis,Diabetes mellitus,Coronary heart disease (CHD) leading to myocardial infarction (MI)
Drugs
Amiodarone

Is there a cure/medications for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?

There is no cure for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. But there are medications that can help ease symptoms and prevent complications.

  • Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a disease where the heart muscle becomes thick and stiff. This makes it difficult for blood to flow through the body, causing symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain and fainting spells. It also raises your risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
  • There are medications that can help with these symptoms, but it's important to remember that there's no cure for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy—and that means there's no way to reverse or stop its progression once you've been diagnosed with it.
  • The most common medication used to treat this condition is a beta-blocker, which can help relieve symptoms such as shortness of breath and chest pain, lower blood pressure, and prevent heart failure. Other medications used to treat this condition include ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, diuretics, and vasodilators.
  • When you have OHC, your heart muscle thickens to the point where it restricts blood flow and oxygen to your body. Medications can reduce this thickening in order to improve the efficiency of your heart's pumping action and increase blood flow through your body.
  • These medications may also lower your risk of an arrhythmia, which is a type of irregular heartbeat that can cause sudden cardiac arrest if not treated quickly enough.
Symptoms
Fatigue,Excessive sweating or shortness of breath (hyperventilation) with exertion,Chest pain or discomfort when exercising or at res,Heart palpitations (skipped beats),Swelling in legs and feet due to fluid buildup (edema),Shortness of breath,Fatigue (extreme tiredness),Dizziness or lightheadedness,Palpitations (a racing or fluttering sensation in the chest)
Conditions
Hypertension,Atherosclerosis,Diabetes mellitus,Coronary heart disease (CHD) leading to myocardial infarction (MI)
Drugs
Amiodarone

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