In HCM, the heart muscle is abnormally thick, causing issues that can even result in sudden death. — AFP
About 1 in 500 people have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).
It's a condition where the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick.
HCM is one of the most common causes of sudden death among young athletes and otherwise healthy adults.
In the past, athletes and other patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy were told to sit on the sidelines.
But it may be time to get back into the game.
The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology recently released new guidelines on this condition.
The guideline's writing committee chair and Mayo Clinic Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Clinic medical director Dr Steve Ommen says that with exercise and proper medication management, patients can return to their normal daily routines.
"Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy should not be an automatic disqualification from pursuing sports," he says.
Patients with HCM might benefit from being active, he notes.
"Our current recommendations are that patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy participate in low to moderate intensity exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle, and that it's reasonable for them to do more vigorous activities as well," he says.
A new class of medications is on the roster, giving patients more options to manage their disease.
"Usually, there's some simple medications the patient may try first, and then, if that's not effective, they will have an option of this medication; an older medication called disopyramide; an operation called surgical myectomy; or a catheter-based solution, alcohol septal ablation," Dr. Ommen explains.
It's a good idea to check with your healthcare team before making changes to medications or daily routines.
HCM symptoms include:
- Chest pain, especially while exercising.
- Fainting during or after physical activity.
- Shortness of breath during exercise.
- Heart palpitations or rapid heartbeats. – Sonya Goins/Mayo Clinic News Network/Tribune News Service
