User:Mr. Ibrahem/Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a heart disease in which a portion of the heart becomes thickened without an obvious cause. Symptoms vary from none to tiredness, leg swelling, and shortness of breath. It may also result in chest pain or fainting. Complications include heart failure, an irregular heartbeat, and sudden cardiac death.

It is most commonly inherited from a person's parents. It is often due to mutations in certain genes involved with making heart muscle proteins. Other causes may include Fabry disease, Friedreich's ataxia, and certain medications such as tacrolimus. It is a type of cardiomyopathy, a group of diseases that primarily affects the heart muscle. The stiffened heart muscle results in the heart being less able to pump blood and the thickened interventricular septum can result in blocking the flow of blood from the left ventricle into the aorta and a weakened mitral valve.

Diagnosis is by electrocardiogram and echocardiogram. Other tests may include stress testing and genetic testing. Screening relatives may be offered. Treatment generally begins with beta blockers, verapamil, and disopyramide. Diuretics are used with caution as they can reduce left ventricular volume and outflow. An implantable cardiac defibrillator may be recommended in those with certain types of irregular heartbeat. Surgery, in the form of a septal myectomy or heart transplant, may be done in those who do not improve with other measures. With treatment, the risk of death from the disease is less than one percent per year.

HCM affects up to one in 200 people. Rates in men and women are about equal. People of all ages may be affected. The first modern description of the disease was by Donald Teare in 1958.