Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic disorder of the heart muscle where an individual’s heart muscle becomes abnormally thickened. This can cause the heart to suffer from reduced functioning, leading to complications such as congestive heart failure, abnormal heartbeats and even sudden cardiac death. HCM is one of the most common inherited heart diseases, and early diagnosis and treatment of HCM is essential to prevent further complications. Treatment of HCM includes medications to reduce cardiac workload and reduce risks of arrhythmias, device therapies to reduce the workload on the heart, and in some cases, surgical interventions to reduce the thickness of the heart walls. Effective management of HCM can help patients live longer and more active lives.