HCM is a congenital cardiovascular condition that causes excessive thickening of the heart muscle and impairs blood flow. As a result, it increases the chance of individuals like young athletes dying suddenly and without warning.

The most common heart disease in cats, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a heart muscle disease in which the walls of the heart, specifically the left ventricle, become abnormally thickened. As the disease progresses, it alters the structure of the heart and impairs its function. It is a potentially serious disease that is found in cats of all ages. A cat that seems healthy can suddenly become very ill or even die.

Researchers have identified defective genes that cause the heart muscle fibers to grow abnormally, resulting in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. People with family members who have had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are at an increased risk for developing this condition and, as a result, have a slightly higher risk of early death than the general population.1 In about 50% of cases, people inherit hypertrophic cardiomyopathy from their parents.

Symptoms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may occur at any time of life. However, in some cases people do not develop any symptoms even though the condition may have been present for some time. The most common symptoms are shortness of breath and fatigue. Other common symptoms are chest pain (angina), heart palpitations, and fainting or near-fainting (syncope), especially with physical activity.

Your doctor will review your medical history, ask about any family history of heart disease or early and sudden death, and perform a thorough physical exam, including listening to your heart and lungs and checking your legs for fluid buildup. An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), chest X-ray, echocardiogram, routine blood tests, and other medical tests are usually needed to confirm a diagnosis.

Because of the risk of sudden death, it is important for people with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy to avoid strenuous activity and intense exercise. Getting moderate exercise under your doctor's supervision, eating a low-fat diet, and avoiding alcohol overuse are all ways to promote a healthy heart. Your doctor will recommend regular office visits to monitor this condition.

The cause of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy is not yet known. In many cases the condition is inherited. In others there is either no evidence of inheritance or there is insufficient information about the individual's family to assess inheritance.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy is a relatively uncommon heart disease. Its exact frequency is unknown. A paper by Dr. Barry Maron of the Minneapolis Heart Institute, estimated that between 1 in 500 and 1 in 1000 births could be affected by HCM. Based on these data we may estimate that as many as 300,000 people in the United States have HCM. In comparison Cystic Fibrosis has a prevalence of 1 in 3300. This means HCM is nearly 7 times more common than Cystic Fibrosis.

Arrhythmias, irregularities of the heart beat, are a common complication. Symptoms such as palpitation may occur but not often. The arrhythmias called ventricular tachycardia (arising from the ventricles) or atrial fibrillation are particularly important. The normal electrical signal may travel down to the ventricles slowly or may even be completely blocked. Persons with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy have an increased risk of premature sudden death, which may occur with little or no warning.

Currently, the diagnosis of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy is made by an ultrasound scan of the heart called an echocardiogram.. Unfortunately, no. On occasion, a heart murmur may be heard using a stethoscope during a sports physical, however most murmurs are from benign causes. Detection of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy requires direct visualization of the heart with an echocardiogram.

A hypertrophic scar is a wound that heals to greater than normal size as a result of a aggressive lay down of collagen, contained in larger than normal skin cells, producing a raised, smooth, hyper-pigmented result. The site maintains a higher than normal level of sensitivity and the tissue is more fibrous in structure. BIOSKINCARE™ has shown to flatten, soften, smooth and dramatically improve the discoloration noted with these types of aggressive scars.

A genetic and deadly heart disease causing a thickness in the heart muscle. Usually the disease shows up between the first and second year of age, but there are known cases of it showing up in an earlier or later stage. The life expectancy is usually a few years. Cats can be checked to see if they are affected using a echocardiographic test. The test needs to be repeated every year.

Cardiomyopathy is a potentially serious disease of the heart muscle, in which the heart muscle becomes inflamed and cannot work properly. There are four distinct forms of cardiomyopathy, with varying... Lown-Ganong-Levine syndrome is a disorder of the electrical conducting system of the heart, which regulates the heartbeat. LGL causes people living with it to experience rapid heartbeats, heart palpi..

While valve disease is the more common heart ailment in smaller breeds of dogs, larger breeds are more prone to suffer from dilated cardiomyopathy. Dilated cardiomyopathy involves the dilation and thinning of the heart's chambers, which can lead to lowered heart function and, eventually, congestive heart failure.

HCM can affect anyone at anytime, and is the most common cause of sudden cardiac arrest in individuals under the age of 30. Specifically, it is known for its impact on young athletes. Most athletes and their family members, who may also be at risk for this genetic condition, are unaware that they might be at risk until SCA strikes.

Treatment of HCM depends upon a number of conditions. Therefore it is recommended that you speak with your physician about available treatments and/or medications.