It’s my loneliness.
It’s looking healthy on the outside.
It’s believing I can still live a great life.
What is hypertrophic
cardiomyopathy (HCM)?
Eric,
Diagnosed with HCM in 2023
Actual consented person with HCM.
ABOUT HCM
HCM is a condition that causes the heart muscles to pump too strongly
Over time, this can cause the heart muscle to thicken. This may mean that your heart doesn’t function as well as it should to deliver oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. HCM may make it difficult to perform daily activities.
HCM can happen to anyone, no matter their age, gender, or race. For some people with HCM, it may be an inherited condition. For others, the cause is unclear.
More than
50%
of the 660,000 people in the US with HCM remain undiagnosed
Commonly Used Terms List
This resource can serve as quick reference for commonly used HCM terms.
HCM is a condition that makes the heart not work as well as it should
There are 2 main types of HCM: nonobstructive HCM (nHCM) and obstructive HCM (oHCM)
Normal heart
A heart without HCM contracts and relaxes to pump blood and oxygen throughout the body.
nHCM heart
In a heart with nHCM, the walls can get thick and stiff. The heart can’t relax normally and fill with blood. Since there’s less blood filling the heart due to thickened and stiffened walls, there’s less oxygenated blood being pumped out with each heartbeat.
In nHCM, the blood can still flow out of the heart without being blocked.
Obstructive HCM heart
Obstructive HCM is the most common type of HCM. Similar to nonobstructive HCM, the walls get thick and stiff, resulting in less blood being pumped out to the body. But in obstructive HCM, the thickened walls partially block the blood flow out of the heart. The heart must pump even harder to overcome the blockage.
Normal heart
A heart without HCM contracts and relaxes to pump blood and oxygen throughout the body.
nHCM heart
In a heart with nHCM, the walls can get thick and stiff. The heart can’t relax normally and fill with blood. Since there’s less blood filling the heart due to thickened and stiffened walls, there’s less oxygenated blood being pumped out with each heartbeat.
In nHCM, the blood can still flow out of the heart without being blocked.
oHCM heart
oHCM is the most common type of HCM. You may also see it referred to as hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). Similar to nHCM, the walls get thick and stiff, resulting in less blood being pumped out to the body. But in oHCM, the thickened walls partially block the blood flow out of the heart. The heart must pump even harder to overcome the blockage.
2 out of 3 people diagnosed with HCM have oHCM. Both types of HCM can cause symptoms.
Effects of HCM
Hear from people who are living with HCM, including the different ways they are affected physically and emotionally.
SYMPTOMS
HCM is a chronic condition that can get worse over time
You may not feel symptoms in the beginning or overlook them, thinking you’ve been “working too hard” or it’s “just part of getting older.” But symptoms could be a sign your HCM is getting worse or your treatment isn’t working as well as it could.
Symptoms of HCM can include:
Hard time breathing
Feeling tired and unable to exercise
Dizziness or fainting
Chest pain
Racing heart or fluttering heartbeat
Swelling of legs and feet
Don’t ignore the warning signs of worsening HCM.
Talk to your cardiologist about any symptoms or changes in symptoms you experience.
IMPACTS OF HCM
HCM affects everyone differently
Some people may not realize they're experiencing symptoms related to HCM. It's important to listen to your body for any new symptoms and tell your cardiologist if you experience any decline in your activity level.
Over time, it can be harder for people with HCM to do many physical activities. This is partly because they are limited in how well their bodies take up and use oxygen.
When the body doesn’t get enough oxygen, it can make daily activities difficult, such as:
Grocery shopping
Mowing the lawn
Going for a walk or hike
Swimming
Taking an exercise class
One of the goals of treatment is to help you do more of your daily activities, including some of the things you may love.
The amount of activity your heart and lungs can perform before you get tired is called exercise tolerance. It can be measured through something called peak oxygen consumption, or pVO2.
pVO2 is evaluated using a special test called cardiopulmonary exercise testing, or CPET. Your cardiologist may decide whether this test is appropriate for you.
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