Heart Health: The Underlying Risks of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Heart attacks get a lot of attention in discussions about heart health. It’s hard to ignore the fact that around 805,000 individuals lose their lives to heart attacks annually in the U.S. Interestingly, many of these incidents might be tied to genetic conditions that often go undetected.
Some would even label certain heart conditions as “silent killers,” taking lives of seemingly healthy young individuals.
If a relative passed away unexpectedly before hitting 40, it could be worth asking your doctor about hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).
HCM, affecting about 1 in 500 individuals, leads to thickening and stiffening of the heart muscle, which can hinder its function. This condition makes it challenging for blood to circulate effectively, potentially resulting in issues like heart failure, irregular heart rates, or even sudden cardiac arrest.
This inherited disease is the most prevalent form of heart disease, with children of parents diagnosed with HCM being at a 50% risk of developing it themselves. Alarmingly, young people often face sudden death since symptoms may not manifest before it’s too late.
Current data suggests that merely 100,000 individuals have received an HCM diagnosis, which indicates that around 85% of the population might be affected without their knowledge, according to the American Heart Failure Association.
While it’s noted that this condition is generally inherited, the precise origin remains somewhat of a mystery.
Dr. Theodore Abraham, an echocardiogram technician at UCSF Health, notes, “Genotyping is significant, yet it’s not the complete picture with HCM. For about half of those with severe cases, the causative gene remains unidentified. Also, just because a gene is present doesn’t definitively indicate the disease is there.”
Early detection can be crucial for effective management, but traditional echocardiography may not always identify this elusive condition.
Dr. Abraham shares that patients presenting with HCM or other heart issues might have undergone ultrasound examinations, only to be told, “Everything looks fine.” Yet, they would return years later facing severe complications.
Even without a family history, being alert to signs like fatigue, breathlessness, chest discomfort, fainting, and swelling in the extremities is advisable. You could also have an increased risk if someone in your household uses an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) or has experienced heart-related events.
Symptoms might not show up in younger individuals right away and often become apparent later on. However, doctors can run tests to check for HCM.
While no medication exists to cure this condition, engaging in light to moderate exercise and maintaining regular check-ups with a cardiologist could be beneficial in tracking its evolution.
