Find Hope for Your Heart
Your frustration is real. Living with a chronic disease like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) isn’t easy, especially with symptoms that can include shortness of breath, chest pressure, heart palpitations, lightheadedness and fainting. That’s why our supportive team of leading cardiology experts is determined to help you live your life to its fullest.
We can help you manage your symptoms, especially if you’re at high risk for serious cardiovascular complications. And we’ll work to empower you to overcome the limitations of this disorder so you can heal in body, mind and spirit.
Trusted Heart Care From a Multidisciplinary Team of Experts
From innovative research that leads to breakthroughs, to a whole-person, multidisciplinary approach to care, our specialists work tirelessly to bring you leading-edge diagnostics for accurate results, leading to customized treatment options that help you live your best life.
-
Whole-Person Care
Our whole-person care philosophy is embedded in every interaction with our patients. And our cardiologists are committed to helping you explore your hypertrophic cardiomyopathy diagnosis and determine the root causes of your condition so that you can thrive in body, mind and spirit.
-
Experienced Care Teams
Our cardiologists are experts in their field and commit themselves to providing leading-edge care for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy to help you get back to the life you love. You can trust that you’re in good hands with us.
-
Multidisciplinary Research
Our goal of delivering the best hypertrophic cardiomyopathy care drives us as we work closely with patients and families. This focus on innovation and research has led to new procedures, devices and treatments to help you heal and reclaim your life.
Helping You Understand Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Conditions
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a common genetic condition that affects the heart muscle. Early treatment and diagnosis are critical to best manage symptoms, especially in patients at high risk for serious cardiovascular complications. Our physicians have dedicated experience treating the different clinical profiles of this condition, so you can rest assured that you're in capable and compassionate hands.
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Symptoms to Know
-
People who have HCM may experience symptoms like:
- Chest pressure
- Heart palpitations
- Lightheadedness or fainting
- Shortness of breath
Some of the clinical profiles of HCM may include:
- Cardiac arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat)
- Congestive heart failure
- Sudden cardiac death (in a small subset of patients)
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Potential Causes
-
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is often inherited. Most often diagnosed in middle age, it can affect people at any age. Risk factors include:
- Alcoholism
- Coronary heart disease, heart attack or a viral infection that inflames the heart muscle
- Diabetes and other metabolic diseases
- Diseases that damage the heart, such as hemochromatosis, sarcoidosis or amyloidosis
- Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (a family history of cardiomyopathy, heart failure or sudden cardiac arrest)
- High blood pressure
- History of syncope
- Severe obesity
Additionally, HCM may be associated with congestive heart failure and sudden cardiac death. Risk factors for congestive heart failure include:
- Diastolic dysfunction
- End-stage burnout
- Mitral insufficiency
- Obstruction
With sudden cardiac death, risk factors include:
- A thick ventricle, greater than 3 cm
- Family history
- History of syncope
- Recurrent ventricular tachycardia
- Comprehensive Care for a Complex Condition
-
A diagnosis of HCM can fill you with uncertainty. But you can rest easier knowing you’ll have support with solutions that strengthen your whole health. We want you to feel confident, connected and heard while you’re in our care.
Expert Collaborations
We believe the best way to support you in body, mind and spirit is to work together across our areas of expertise. Our approach is highly coordinated, and as our patient, you’ll have access to:
- Arrhythmia specialists
- Cardiovascular surgeons
- Geneticists
- Imaging specialists
- Interventional cardiologists
- Pediatric cardiologists*
- Transplant surgeons*
We’ll work together to provide effective treatment delivered with compassion.
*This specialty care is currently available in Florida only.
Your Journey to a Healthy Heart
When it comes to matters of the heart, you deserve expert care that treats you in body, mind and spirit. Our board-certified cardiologists and expert care teams are dedicated to providing accurate diagnoses, world-class treatments and leading-edge surgical options to help you heal.
- Diagnosis
-
Getting a hypertrophic cardiomyopathy diagnosis starts with testing, which could include:
- Cardiac MRI
- An echocardiogram
- An electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Electrophysiology testing with and/or without ablation
- Genetic testing
- Stress echocardiogram
- Treatments
-
Depending on your unique HCM diagnosis, your doctors may recommend treatments like:
- Ablation: removes extra tissue to reduce thickening and help the heart beat better
- Heart transplant: for a severely damaged heart
- Lifestyle changes: stopping alcohol consumption, monitoring and lowering salt intake
- Medications: can lower blood pressure, reduce excess fluid and help the heart pump better
- Surgically implanted devices: to help maintain proper heart rhythm
- Surgical Options
-
If the obstruction of blood flow from the left ventricle to the body is severe, the thickened heart muscle can be “trimmed” using one of two surgical techniques:
- Alcohol septal ablation: a heart catheterization procedure used to introduce a catheter into one of the small arteries that bring blood to the abnormally thickened septum; alcohol is injected into the artery to reduce the size of the muscle
- Surgical myectomy: open-heart surgery to cut away the portion of the thickened muscle, relieving the obstruction to blood flow
Heart Experts You Can Count On
If you’re living with HCM, you deserve a heart specialist who understands the complexities of this diagnosis and, most importantly, how to help you feel whole. Our cardiologists and other heart experts are ready to help you manage HCM with proven treatments and uncommon compassion at every step.
Expert, Award-Winning Care
HCM Center of Excellence
AdventHealth Orlando is a recognized hypertrophic cardiomyopathy center of excellence — and the only one in Central Florida. We are dedicated to providing the highest quality care for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy to every patient we serve.
National Leader in Aortic Valve Surgery
AdventHealth Orlando is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of America’s best hospitals for aortic valve surgery
National Leader in Heart Bypass Surgery
AdventHealth Orlando is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of America’s best hospitals for heart bypass surgery.
Find Support From People Who Understand
As you navigate your HCM diagnosis and treatment, take comfort knowing you're not the only one walking this path. In our AdventHealth Cardiovascular Institute support groups and programs, you can give and receive support and encouragement alongside people who understand your journey.
Answering Your Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Questions
The more you know about your heart health, the more empowered you’ll be as you and your family journey toward wholeness. We’re here to answer these frequently asked questions about hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and your care team will be happy to answer any questions you have throughout your treatment.
-
Q:Question: What is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)?
A:Answer:Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common genetic condition that causes the heart muscle to thicken over time. Typically, HCM thickens the left ventricle, which is the chamber of the heart that pumps oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. HCM can affect the heart in different ways, causing electrical changes that lead to irregular heartbeats or blockages in the heart's valves that reduce blood flow.
-
Q:Question: What symptoms does HCM cause, and can it be present without symptoms?
A:Answer:Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can cause symptoms like an irregular heartbeat, chest pressure, heart palpitations, heart murmurs, lightheadedness, fainting and shortness of breath. However, it’s possible to have HCM and not know it because you aren’t experiencing any symptoms. Many times, people with HCM find out they have it after certain signs show up on imaging tests for unrelated reasons.
-
Q:Question: Is HCM genetic, and should my family members be screened or tested?
A:Answer:Yes, HCM is a genetic heart condition, but you can also develop it without inheriting the gene. HCM is the most common form of an inherited heart disease, so we recommend that your immediate family, which includes parents, siblings and children, be tested, as they have a 50% chance of having the condition themselves if you test positive.
-
Q:Question: Can I exercise or play sports safely if I have HCM?
A:Answer:Certain patients with HCM can exercise and play sports. However, this varies from patient to patient. If you’ve been diagnosed with HCM, you must talk to your doctor to determine whether exercise is safe for you.
According to a study conducted by the National Library of Medicine, some patients with HCM may engage in aerobic cardiovascular exercise targeting 60% of their heart rate reserve without causing risks.
-
Q:Question: How is HCM monitored over time?
A:Answer:HCM is mainly monitored through changes in symptoms, cardiac rhythm, left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and left ventricular systolic function. For asymptomatic patients, HCM is monitored through annual and semiannual follow-up visits, but is mainly determined by each patient's symptoms, age and disease severity. For these patients, they can expect electrocardiogram tests annually, as well as a 24-hour Holter heart monitor evaluation every 1 to 2 years.
Find Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Care Near You
Your HCM diagnosis doesn’t define you, and our experienced specialists in the AdventHealth Cardiovascular Institute network are here to help you manage it well with the right treatments and compassionate care. Whether you’re living with frustrating HCM symptoms or an accompanying condition like congestive heart failure or an arrhythmia, you can find the strength and support you need here — all coordinated through a trusted national network. Explore our locations or let our team guide you to the one that’s right for you.