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.
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