Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment

Signs and Symptoms

People with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) can have the following symptoms:

• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Fainting
• Palpitations or the sensation of feeling the heart beat
• Dizziness

A minority of people with HCM will suffer from the most serious complications, which include sudden death, heart failure and stroke. It is important to note that HCM has a wide range of severity. Some people may not experience symptoms and may have normal heart evaluations well into adulthood. Others may have serious complications at a young age, including heart failure or sudden cardiac death. It is difficult to predict whether an individual will have a mild form of HCM or a more severe form. HCM can be a major cause of death in young athletes who appear healthy but die during intense exercise.

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated February 13, 2008