Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

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Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a genetic disease in which the heart muscle grows abnormally, making the heart muscle thicken. The thickened heart muscle can interfere with the heart's electrical system, which increases the risk for life-threatening abnormal heartbeats (arrhythmias) and, rarely, sudden death.

Symptoms, such as shortness of breath and chest pain, may occur at any time of life. But some people never have symptoms, even though the condition may have been present for some time. In some cases, the thickened heart muscle is unable to relax between heartbeats, and the heart muscle itself does not get enough blood or oxygen, which causes chest pain. In rare cases, the thickened heart muscle becomes unable to pump enough blood to meet the body's needs, resulting in heart failure.

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Author	Jeannette Curtis
Author	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS
Editor	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Editor	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor	Tracy Landauer
Associate Editor	Pat Truman, MATC
Primary Medical Reviewer	Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Last Updated	May 25, 2007

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Last updated:	May 25, 2007
Author:	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC

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