How is HCM diagnosed?
How is HCM diagnosed?
Tests: An echocardiogram is the most common test used to diagnose HCM, as the characteristic thickening of the heart walls is usually visible on the echo. Other tests may include blood tests, electrocardiogram, chest X-ray, exercise stress echo test, cardiac catheterization and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
How long can people live with HCM?
Research has shown that with proper treatment and follow-ups, most people with HCM live a normal life. A database of 1,297 patients with HCM from the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation identified that 2% of the patients can live past 90 years, and 69% of them were women.
Is HCM a terminal illness?
Potential Long-Term Complications of HCM This condition is also called “sudden cardiac death.” This is typically caused by a rapid heart rhythm known as ventricular tachycardia. Without emergency treatment, sudden cardiac arrest can be fatal. HCM is the leading cause of sudden cardiac death in people who are under 30.
Does an EKG show HCM?
Abnormal ECG patterns are common in HCM patients (up to 90% of probands) and may be present in advance of the appearance of hypertrophy on imaging. There is a subset of patients with phenotypic expression of the disease by echocardiography that has a normal ECG.
Is HCM serious?
As HCM progresses, it can cause other health problems. People with HCM are at higher risk for developing atrial fibrillation, which can lead to blood clots, stroke and other heart-related complications. HCM may also lead to heart failure. It can also lead to sudden cardiac arrest, but this is rare.
What is end stage HCM?
One of the most serious manifestations of HCM, apart from sudden death, is progressive systolic heart failure (HF) often coupled with ventricular dilatation, which for the lack of a better name, is referred to as end-stage HCM.
Is HCM a death sentence?
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM, is the most common heart disease diagnosed in cats. It is a disease that affects the heart muscle, causing the muscle to become thickened and ineffective in pumping the blood through the heart and the rest of the body.
