Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Treatment in Delhi, India

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a genetic type of cardiomyopathy that causes thickening of the heart muscles. As a result, blood circulation becomes less efficient inside the heart.

Associated Anatomy of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

The Heart muscle: the muscle region near the bottom chambers of the heart.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Causes

Gene mutations are primary factors for developing hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Multiple genes are implicated in the thickening of heart muscles. These mutations affect the muscular wall of the bottom chambers of the heart, also known as ventricles, and they become thicker than normal. As a result, blood flow out of the heart becomes difficult.

The disease is passed down through the family. If a parent has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, their children have a 50 percent chance of inheriting this genetic condition.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Symptoms

• Pain in the chest region
• Fainting after an intense exercise session
• Murmuring of the heart
• Uneven heartbeats
• Breathing problems
• Sudden cardiac death

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Diagnosis

The symptoms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are shared with other conditions, such as hypertensive heart disease, athlete’s heart, and aortic stenosis. All of which affect either the heart or the muscles of the heart. A significant number of patients suffering from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are diagnosed with a cardiac MRI. It can detect the thickening of the heart muscles above 15 mm.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Diagnosis Tests

Diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy depends on the progression of the disease into its distinct features. The techniques used in the diagnosis are cardiac MRI, catheterization of the heart, echocardiography along with electrocardiography (ECG), and DNA testing of the genes implicated in disease development for ultimate confirmation.

Types of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

The disease can be categorized into two variants, depending on whether there is an obstruction to the flow of blood. The classifications are:

• Obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: blood flow is obstructed.
• Nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: blood flow is unobstructed but the heart muscle is still stiff.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Treatment

Asymptomatic Condition Treatment

A majority of people with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy don’t experience symptoms associated with the disease. Hence, a person can leave a normal life with a normal life expectancy. Yet, asymptomatic people should be checked because of the risk of sudden cardiac death. It is also advised to avoid any intensive exercises or actions that increase pressure on the heart.

Beta-blockers

Medications are used to relieve the symptoms of this condition. Beta-blockers can slow down the rate of heartbeats and decrease the likelihood of uneven heartbeats. Other medications, such as calcium channel blockers, are also used to treat symptoms, as there is no known cure for this condition.

Risk Factor of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Hereditary factors: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy belongs to a set of genetic diseases that are inherited. If parents or siblings of a person are affected by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the person carries affected genes. Then it is in the person’s best interest to be screened for this disease regularly, as there is a high chance of developing the disease.

Possible Complications of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

The changes in the heart's muscle thickness can cause changes in the electrical system powering the heart, causing irregular heartbeats in a condition known as atrial fibrillation. Again, this condition also causes heart muscles to block the flow of blood to the rest of the body. Once the heart muscle is thick enough, which will cause blood to leap back into the atrium (upper chambers) of the heart. The thickened heart muscle becomes so stiff that the heart cannot accommodate the needs of the body.

In extreme cases of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, death can occur in patients in any age group. As the disease can be asymptomatic, people who have inherited the condition are not aware that they have the problem. Sudden cardiac death is often the first sign of the condition. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can affect a wide age group - it can be seen in the pediatric population to active, healthy adults.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Prevention

• Preventive medications: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy has no known prevention methods. Patients need to identify the condition as early as possible and then treat the condition with medications at the earliest to prevent any complications in the future.
• Gene testing: Thanks to the predictable nature of the disease, doctors immediately recommend gene testing if the person’s first-degree relatives are affected by the disease. If the DNA testing method is inconclusive, an echocardiogram can be used for confirmation of the disease. Healthy adults should be screened for the conditions at least once a year. People other than athletes should check up once every five years.

Epidemiology of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Genetic: the estimated figures from the general population for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is one affected individual per 625 members of the population. And it is one of the most common causes of sudden cardiac death for people under 35 years of age.

Expected Prognosis of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy has a mortality rate of 1 percent but is also associated with premature death. Patients affected usually display mild symptoms and have a normal life expectancy. However, they are advised to refrain from intensive training and exercises.

Natural Progression of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Patients usually lead a normal life. Unless they are involved in athletics, in which case the symptoms might be noticeable. Yet, a tiny percentage of cases develop some serious life-threatening complications, such as sudden heart failure and cardiac death.

Pathophysiology of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the muscular region known as the septum between the bottom chambers of the heart becomes thicker than usual. And as a result, the muscles become too stiff and block blood flow out of the heart. Worse, the blood leaks back into the heart, affecting circulation.

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