Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Question: Is there a connection between LBBB and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy? I wonder bc I was diagnosed with LBBB and my cousin was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and I know hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is thought to be genetic...and the symptoms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy abd LBBB are similar. so could i have undiagnosed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy? I have the shortness of breath, I was diagnose with excercise induced asthma, etc. is the only thing tested for the thickening?

Answer: Well, there is no connection per se between left bundle branch block and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In simple terms, LBBB refers to a problem with the heart's electrical conductivity and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a thickening of the heart muscle. The only "connection" is that the conductivity issue will aggravate the overall cardiac output, which is already lowered by the hypertophic cardiomyopathy. RM: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is not difficult to diagnose. If you have seen a cardiologist, I'm certain that he/she would have been able to detect this.

Question: what kind of work is possible for a teenager with Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy? My 17 yr old son has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and is about to leave school to start a career, but as a father who has already lost two sons to this condition i would love to know what other teenagers out there are able to do with this condition who also have a Defibrillator as with my son.

Answer: As your son is having a defibrillator be careful in selecting a job for him. He should stay away from strong magnetic field and VACUUM TUBES and electrical appliances. Please contact your physician to choose a right job for him. He is in a better position to recommend. I am personally confused what to recommend him! as little knowledge is bad and can harm your child.

Question: I have hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, Anyway i can prolong my life ? I have been Diagnosed with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy , Should i stop sports ? and change my diet ? What is the best ways to prolong my life as i don't want to die young.

Answer: It entirely depends on your just how hypertrophied your heart muscle is. If the problem is mild then it may not impede on your life at all. If your problem is moderate to severe then some people are told to avoid strenuous exercise as much as possible. With regards to diet, there are no specific foods you need to avoid bit it is important that you do not become too overweight as this will put a strain on your heart. Avoid alcohol too. The main risk is arrhythmia's which are the most common cause of sudden death in young adults. Are you taking any medication? If you re-edit this question with more detail I can be of more help.

Question: Looking for families with children that have Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy located in florida? This is a very scary disease for children, and not to well known.

Answer: You can try this link, hope it works. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/88398.php

Question: How do you get hypertrophic cardiomyopathy? I know this may sound like a stupid question, but I want to know if it's possible to 'develop' this condition at an point in life. Like if I had my EKG and echo 2 years ago and it's fine, can my doctor find I have this condition 2 years later? Or can I just get it at any point? I looked at sites like wikipedia and it just talks about what it is, the diagnosis... but I'm wondering if anyone can get it at any time? Thank you.

Answer: I think this very small topic will help you out: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This type involves abnormal growth or thickening of your heart muscle, particularly affecting the muscle of the left ventricle. As thickening occurs, the heart tends to stiffen and the size of the pumping chamber may shrink, interfering with your heart's ability to deliver blood to your body. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can develop at any age, but the condition tends to be more severe among those diagnosed during childhood. Researchers have identified abnormal genes that predispose people to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Most affected people have a family history of the disease.

Question: Should i get my children tested for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy? My father died from it, i was tested and i am ok, but are my children at risk?

Answer: To my knowledge hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is an autosomal dominant disorder and therefore if you were carrying the gene you would express it. With this knowledge you shouldn't need to have you children checked. Having said this however it is also true that mortality rates for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is higher in children than adults and in my opinion it is sometimes better to be safe than sorry (especially when family is involved). I realise this is a 'little from column A and a little from column B' type of answer, but it'll at least give you something to think about. The bottom line is see your family practitioner, he/she will sort you out with the best advice.

Question: Can a drug overdose lead to death by Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy or is this condition always genetic.? If the condition is always genetic can it be aggravated by drug abuse which may in turn lead to sudden heart failure?

Answer: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is quite a heterogeneous condition. What I mean by that is that HCM may present quite differently between individuals, even within the same family. In general, the risk of sudden cardiac death is assessed on the basis of a family history, a personal history of collapses and from echocardiographic features. Sometimes genetic testing is included in this assessment. HCM is caused by mutations in sarcomeric proteins (the proteins which make up the contractile apparatus of the heart muscle). However, it is possibly to develop a form of hypertrophied heart which is not linked to this genetic abnormality. This may result from lots of exercise (mostly at competitive level) and occasionally for abuse of drugs including cocaine and amphetamines. But strictly speaking this type of hypertrophy is different from HCM both in its origins and outcome. Yes, taking drugs (especially cocaine or amphetamines) may increase the likelihood of developing a serious heart rhythm abnormality which could lead to death. Obviously the greater the underlying background risk (from the HCM), the greater the chances that these drugs could cause problems. So bottom line is....if you, or someone you know, has HCM, then drugs should be avoided, particularly those which may be pro-arrhythmogenic.

Question: Is it safe for my son use trampoline he has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy? He is 5 years old and has been told he can run about with other kids witch he manages fine but he musnt really over exert himself hes loves going on our trampoline but keeps saying his heart is jumping about its probably the same for anyone but i worry with him beacause im not sure how far to let him go if i can help it i dont want to stop him as the doctors have said let him lead as normal life as possible HE IS TREATED WITH MEDICATION SYPROL--PROPANANOL

Answer: I am a trampoline coach and would be very concerned about teaching your son. It is safe provided he is rested every 3-5 minutes to resume his heart rate. The trampoline is very taxing on the heart. It really exercises the heart hard, and the heart rate increases a lot in a very short period of time. Other than speaking to a doctor, time his trampoline use and make sure he uses it in short bursts with rests in between of 5 minutes or until his heart rate decreases.

Question: Is there anyone out there that has Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy who is also in their late teens? My son has this condition and also has a defib so i was just wondering if there was someone out there who could share their story and maybe correspond with my son in regards to how they cope and their lifestyle.

Answer: I was going to suggest asking this question at the HCM forum of the cardiomyopathy association, but I see you have already posted there. I'm glad you're casting a wide net. You should be able to connect with people that share your questions and concerns.

Question: Is red bull bad for me i have a heart called Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy? I had few red bulls when i went out the other night and my heart was playing up big time would it have been the drink ?

Answer: Don't drink Red Bull. Have a search on the internet - it will surprise you the amount of countries who have banned it from being sold. There are health concerns regarding the consumption of Red Bull - just have a look at the ingredient list, lots of taurine and caffeine, glucuronolactone. In 2007, a study conducted by American researchers concluded that Red Bull, along with other popular energy drinks, could boost both blood pressure and heart rates, prompting them to warn those with heart disease to avoid the drinks due to the possibility it could reduce the effectiveness of their medications. Don't drink it!

Question: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy? If anyone out there is a cardiologist, I'd love some help. I'm a 43 year old female in good health. I have good b/p. I am 5'1 and weigh about 117 lbs. I run 6 days a week, 3 miles a day at between 6-7 miles per hour. I tend to get alot of irregular heartbeats and always have (was diagnosed with MVP many years ago but was told it was very minor and would not cause symptoms). My question is this. If someone is a recreational runner, not running long distances or speeds, are they at risk to develop hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (thickening of the heart)? I have had EKG's, ecocardiograms, a stress test and even wore a holter monitor (last year) for the irregular heart beats and nothing was every found, even tho those tests were done years ago. Should I be concerned or cut my running routine? I thought I was doing something good for me but am worried I'm doing more harm than good. Thanks everyone! To ens_imp: Thank you, that was very informative. I have been running this schedule since September of 2007. As much as I hate running, I'd hate even more to give it up. Your answer was very informative.

Answer: Theres nothing in particular, from what you have written, that sounds like it would put you at increased risk for hypertropic cardiomyopathy. Thickening of the left ventricle is most commonly the result of hypertension. The heart has to work harder to push against increased resistance in the vascular system. Since you say that you have a normal blood pressure, this does not sound like it would be a problem. Now, I'm not a cardiologists but I did cardiology rotations as part of my internship, back in the day, and most of the cases that I saw that were termed hypertropic cardiomyopathy seemed to be due to specific increases in the thickness of the tissue in the outflow track in the left ventricle. The increase in tissue was relatively site specific. The most likely cause of nonhypertension related hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is inherited. There can always be other causes and it is true that you can have mitral valve changes due to HCM but I do not believe that MVP is considered to be a significant risk factor. Besides, by the time that you develop valvular changes, you would have sufficient wall thickening to be able to see it on echo, if not transthoracic, definitely transesophageal. If you are a runner, your heart will become stronger and more efficient over time. It should not cause hypertropic cardiomyopathy. I am not sure why you are getting irregular heartbearts-whether these are PVCs or some other problem like Wolf Parkinson White-but if you have had a holter, EKGs and a stress test and the MDs have not been concerned, I think you are on solid footing. Keep in mind that most of the time, running and exercise are good things that should not be given up without instruction from your doc. I have heard of multiple cases of athletes that had heart attacks, secondary to atherosclerosis, and did much better than a nonathlete because all of the running caused them to build extensive collateral arterial support that kept the muscle alive until they could get to help. So, until your MD tells you otherwise, I would keep running. And if you are very worried and there is no contraindication to doing so, taking a baby ASA a day certainly cannot hurt.

Question: My family has 3 with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, my daughter is going to have a baby can the baby get it? My mother has it, my brother died from it and his daughter (my Niece)has it, so if i'm not affected and my daughter isn't, what are the chances that her unborn child will be?

Answer: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a autosomal dominant disease most of the time. Which means that it only takes one gene to pass it along. if your parent is affected it you would have a 50% change of getting it. Since you and your daughter both dont have it it is unlikely that her child will have it. However there are exceptions it would be helpful to see a genetic counsler

Question: How often does Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy occur in the world? Any certain ages?

Answer: For the majority of affected individuals, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a condition which will not limit the quality or duration of life. A minority of people, however, experience significant symptoms and are at risk of sudden death. Evaluation by a cardiologist is recommended to confirm the diagnosis and to assess the outlook and, particularly, the risk of complications. It effects young and old. It is 1 in 1000 usually. Its genetically passed down so anyone could have it!

Question: My father died from Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, what is the chance my children will inherit it? My father died eight years ago when i was twenty, i was tested and they said i was clear. They also said that my children would not be at risk if i didnt have it, i know that i should believe them, but they dont seem to know much about it. Should my children be tested? can i still get it now?

Answer: The cause of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy is not yet known. In the majority of cases the condition is inherited. In others there is either no evidence of inheritance or there is insufficient information about the individual's family to assess inheritance. In affected families the condition usually passes from one generation to the next and generations are not skipped. This pattern of inheritance is called dominant see Figure 2, and the condition may be passed on from affected males and females. FIGURE 2 A Family Tree This family tree shows four generations affected by Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. The condition is transmitted from one generation to the next without skipping a generation. This is called dominant inheritance. Each child of an affected person has a 50:50 chance of inheriting the condition. ####to view the family tree plz check the link below. http://www.cardiomyopathy.org/html/which_card_hcm.htm

Question: How to cure Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy without surgery?

Answer: You'll need to work with a Cardiologist on it. I think that Coreg is the only drug that actually improves the condition but they can also use diuretics, accupril, spironolactone, and digoxin to help you along. You also need to cut out as much sodium from your diet as possible. Use the lesser sodium table salt or use some Mrs Dash salt substitute. Hire a meal replacement service to cook your meals for you so that you stay on a low sodium diet. Basically you're better off with all fresh food, everything made from scratch as most of the sodium is from the food processing that they do to keep the color and tastes. You also need to be on a fluid restricted diet, no more than 2 litres of fluid a day. You even have to count the fluid in popsicles. They only start on the Coreg when they think you're stable as it first weakens you and you have to start in small doses. I actually passed out on Coreg once, it was right after one of the dose increases, I had taken the bedtime dose really late and took the morning dose early, went to the bathroom and urinating lowered my blood pressure enough to black out and fall into the bathtub. My Cardiomyopathy was dilated cardiomypathy so it was just enlarged and the walls hadn't thickened yet. Sounds like your heart has already remodeled and formed an obstruction. If there's too much remodeling there may be little that you can do about it. How's your Ejection Fraction?

Question: My 5 year old son has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and his cardioligist says next time he gos to clinic she? wants him to take an exercise test does any body know what this would contain for a small child like him No he isnt on a transplant list hopefully there will never be a need for that I have seen the treadmill test done on his dad so i kind of know what to expect now thanks

Answer: I am grateful that someone stated that hypertrophic cardiomyopathy does not mean transplant. That was a cruel and ignorant thing to say. This is a treatable condition and there is no reason to presume that your son will not lead a full life. At age 5 however the test will not be done on a bicycle nor a treadmill. An IV is started and one of three drugs is instilled. These drugs make the heart believe that your son has just spent 20 minutes on a treadmill. The most likely drug is adenosine because in the very rare case of a problem it disappears from the bloodstream in seconds. I wish you the very best of health for you and your son and may God bless.