Dr. M.J. Bazos, MD
Patient Handout
CARDIOMYOPATHY,
HYPERTROPHIC
About Your
Diagnosis
Cardiomyopathy is a disease
of the heart muscle that prevents the muscle from generating the normal force of
contraction. The result is that the heart does not effectively pump blood.
Hypertrophic refers to the muscle thickening that occurs in the
ventricle. The thickening may occur in the entire left ventricle or only in the
portion of the ventricle called the septum (the area between the two
sides of the heart near where the blood exits the ventricle). A thickened septum
eventually grows too large and affects the flow of blood from the ventricle. The
thickened muscle usually pumps well but does not fill well. It may become stiff
and lead to inefficient pumping of blood to the body. This inefficient pumping
of blood is heart failure. Because the outflow of blood is compromised, a
person with severe hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is at risk for syncope
(fainting), angina (chest pain),
dyspnea
(difficulty breathing), and sudden
cardiac death. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy usually is caused by genetic
inheritance of the condition. It also may occur among elderly persons with
long-standing untreated hypertension (high blood pressure).
Living With Your
Diagnosis
Most persons with this
condition experience fatigue, decreased ability to exercise, or chest pain. With
heart failure, there may be swelling in the legs or feet or shortness of breath.
There can be palpitations (feeling of the heart beating too fast) from an
arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm). Symptoms lead to an examination that usually
demonstrates an abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG) and a heart that looks enlarged
on a chest radiograph (x-ray). The examination may reveal a heart murmur
(abnormal sounds in the heart) and usually shows signs of an enlarged heart and
heart failure. Echocardiography (an ultrasound examination of the heart) or
angiography (radiographic examination performed to assess blood flow through the
heart) is used to assess the structure of the heart muscle and the pumping
function of the
heart.
Treatment
Therapy
for cardiomyopathy is aimed at reducing excessive ventricular contraction and
addressing the symptoms of heart failure and arrhythmia. If the cause of
cardiomyopathy is known, the patient is treated for that condition. If there is
heart valve damage, antibiotics are prescribed for use before and after dental
or surgical procedures to prevent infection of the heart muscle. Antiarrhythmic
medications are prescribed. Medications that decrease heart rate and the
strength of contractions may be prescribed. These includes beta-blocker
(propranolol) or calcium channel blocking (verapamil) medicines. If pumping
function is seriously decreased and the symptoms worsen, a pacemaker may be
needed.
The
DOs
•Take all medications as
prescribed.
The
DON’Ts
•Do not exercise
unless you have clearance from your physician, even if you have no
symptoms.
When to Call Your
Doctor
•If you have new or
worsening chest pain, shortness of breath, swelling in the legs, or
fainting.