Hypertrophic And Restrictive Cardiomyopathy Causes And Memphis CPR Classes

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM):

HCM is a common cause of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in young people, especially young athletes. It is very common and can affect anyone regardless of age. When heart muscle cells enlarge and cause the walls of the ventricles (generally the left ventricle) to thicken, what results is Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. It is an inherited disease of your heart muscle, where the muscle wall of your ticker becomes thickened. Although the ventricle size often remains normal, but the thickening may block blood flow out of the ventricle, this condition (if happens) is called obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The septum (wall that divides the left and right side of the ticker) sometimes thickens and bulges into the left ventricle which can block blood flow out of the ventricle causing the ventricle to work hard to pump blood. Chest pain, dizziness, shortness of breath, or fainting are some of the symptoms.

HCM also can affect the mitral valve of the ticker causing blood to leak backward through the valve. The thickened heart muscle sometimes doesn't block blood flow out of the left ventricle which is referred to as non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The thickened muscle makes the inside of the left ventricle smaller in both obstructive and non-obstructive HCM, so it holds less blood. The walls may stiffen. Consequently, the ventricle is less able to relax and fill with blood which can raise blood pressure in the ventricles and the blood vessels of the lungs.

Some people who have HCM have no signs or symptoms, and the disease doesn't affect their lives while others may have serious symptoms and complications, such as shortness of breath, serious arrhythmias or an inability to exercise. In rare instances, some people with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can have sudden cardiac arrest during very vigorous physical activity which can trigger life-threatening arrhythmias. Consult with your doctor with regards to the type and amount of physical activity that is safe for you.

HCM Causes:

It’s usually inherited and caused bya change in some of the genes in heart muscle protein. It can also develop over time due to aging and high blood pressure. Diseases like diabetes and thyroid disease can also lead to HCM.

Restrictive Cardiomyopathy:

Older adults are more susceptible to restrictive cardiomyopathy. The lower chambers of the ticker (ventricles) become rigid because of replacement of normal heart muscle with abnormal tissue like scar tissue. The ventricles can’t relax normally and fill with blood as a result, and the atria enlarges. Over time, blood flow in the ticker is reduced which can lead to problems such as heart failure (HF) or arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms).

Causes:

1.      Connective tissue disorders

2.      Cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation

3.      Amyloidosis (buildup of abnormal proteins in the body’s organs including the ticker)

4.      Sarcoidosis (the disease causes inflammation and can affect the body’s organs)

5.      Hemochromatosis (too much iron builds up in the body in this disease, which is toxic to the bodyand can damage the organs, including the heart)

Get trained in the life-saving CPR procedure and contribute towards the safety of cardiac arrest victims. Sign up for a course at CPR Memphis online. Call on 901-438-4200 for more information.