It’s often silent but can be a deadly killer. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a genetic condition that occurs in 1 in 500 people.
Dr. Said Alsidawi, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist, says the problem is that many people don’t even know they have it because they have no symptoms. And in 20% of cases, the first presentation is sudden cardiac death.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a genetic condition that causes the heart muscle to thicken, making it harder to pump blood and sometimes causing an irregular heart rhythm.
Alsidawi says patients are born with a genetic mutation. He says it’s important to seek medical attention if you have any symptoms, especially with exertion, “including shortness of breath, chest pain, lightheadedness, dizziness or passing out.”
If diagnosed, the good news is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can be treated with medications, surgery, implanting a defibrillator that monitors the heart or, in severe cases, heart transplantation.
