Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a disease in which the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick. The thickening of the heart muscle makes it difficult for the heart to pump. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is often undiagnosed because many people with the disease have few symptoms and can lead normal lives without significant problems. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is usually caused by abnormal genes that cause abnormal thickening of the heart muscle.. People with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy also have an abnormal arrangement of heart muscle cells.. This disorder can lead to cardiac arrhythmias in some people.. Blood from the heart. And the amount of blood that the ventricles can hold and the amount that is pumped to the body with each beat decreases... ** Symptoms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy Signs and symptoms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may include one or more of the following... - Shortness of breath, especially during exercise... - Chest pain, especially during exercise... - Fainting, especially during or immediately after exercise or activity. **See the best cardiologist**... Call the emergency room if you have any of the following symptoms for more than a few minutes: - Fast or irregular heartbeat - Difficulty in breathing - Chest pain Complications of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy Complications of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can include the following:

- **Atrial fibrillation:** Thickening of the heart muscle and changes in the structure of the heart cells can change the heart's electrical system and cause rapid or irregular heartbeats.. Dizziness and fainting..- **Mitral valve disease: If the thickened heart muscle blocks blood flow from the heart, the valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle (mitral valve) may not close properly.. As a result, blood may leak backwards into the left atrium (mitral valve regurgitation), which can worsen symptoms.. Weak and ineffective... The ventricle enlarges (dilates) and pumps with less force.. Sometimes an irregular heartbeat or blocked blood flow can cause fainting.. Unexplained fainting may accompany sudden cardiac death, especially if it has occurred recently and in a young person.. - **Sudden death Cardiac:** Rarely causes heart problems in hypertrophy.. Age... **Sudden cardiac death** may be the first symptom of this disease.... This can occur in apparently healthy young people, including college athletes and other physically active young adults....

**Prevention** Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy Since hypertrophic cardiomyopathy runs in families, it cannot be prevented... But to treat and prevent complications, it is important to diagnose this disease as early as possible... Cardioverter-defibrillator implantation helps prevent sudden cardiac death, which occurs in 1% of people with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy... **Diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy Your doctor can review your medical and family history, check your signs and symptoms, and perform a physical exam. Your doctor may order various tests to make a diagnosis. They move normally.. Test... - Holter monitoring - Magnetic resonance of the heart - Cardiac catheterization .... ### **family supervision** If you have a direct relative suffering from this disease, the cardiologist may recommend the following studies: - Genetic studies - Echocardiogram .... **Treatment** of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy The goal of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy treatment is to relieve symptoms and prevent sudden cardiac death in people at risk. Specific treatment varies depending on the severity of symptoms. Your doctor will suggest the most appropriate treatment for your condition. The options are:

- You may be given medicine to relax the muscle and slow your heart rate so your heart can pump more effectively... If you suffer from atrial fibrillation, your doctor can prescribe special treatment to prevent the problem... - Heart surgery to "cut" the muscle that has thickened... This can be done with an open heart or a minimally invasive procedure. Doctors may recommend this device if you have life-threatening heart rhythm disorders.. - Minimally invasive septal ablation... In this method, a small part of the thick muscle is removed by injecting alcohol through a long and thin tube into the blood supply artery to that area...