Myocardial hypertrophy
.Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
(HOCM)
There are several types of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.. The most famous of which is hypertrophy resulting from an increase in the thickness of the heart muscle or resulting from an expansion in the cavity of the heart muscle.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (increased thickness of the heart muscle) is the main cause of death from a heart attack.
For people under the age of 30, especially if they have a family history of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
What are the symptoms and causes of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
The symptoms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy vary from one person to another. Some people do not feel the symptoms of hypertrophy and nothing appears on them, unlike others, the symptoms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are very clear.
The symptoms are as follows:
1- Chest pain or pressure that may occur after exercise or physical activity
2- Fatigue, shortness of breath, and rapid heartbeat, especially after exerting great effort.
3- Fainting caused by irregular heartbeat.
4- High blood pressure.
When does heart muscle enlargement occur?
1- Hereditary thickening of the heart muscle:
Hereditary heart muscle enlargement occurs when one of the family members suffers from an abnormal increase in the thickness of the left ventricle at an early age without a clear reason for the abnormal enlargement, thus making it difficult for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body.
2- Aortic valve stenosis: It is a narrowing of the aortic valve at the exit of the left ventricle to the aorta through which blood passes to all parts of the body and leads to an increase in the thickness of the left ventricle muscle.
3- High blood pressure: The most common cause for most people with heart enlargement.
4- Intense sports training: Intense training may lead to hardening and an increase in the thickness of the heart muscle and negatively affect it, especially weightlifting.
There are factors that increase the chances of developing heart muscle enlargement, such as:
- Morbid weight gain.
- Advanced age and high blood pressure.
- Genetic factors.
What are the complications of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy???
1- Sudden heart attack: It can be a fatal heart attack, usually occurs when the heart stops working due to an irregular heartbeat
2- Heart failure: This is when the heart does not pump the amount of blood needed by the body
3- Dilation and weakness of the heart muscle: Which affects the process of pumping blood
Methods of diagnosing cardiomyopathy:
1. Regular electrocardiogram
2. Echocardiogram
3. Magnetic resonance imaging or CT scan of the heart
Methods of treatment:
1. Medications, the most famous of which are beta blockers and others
2. Catheterization for some cases
3. Surgical treatment
Final advice for patients with cardiomyopathy:
- Every patient suffering from cardiomyopathy should follow up with a cardiologist periodically with the necessary medical examinations in order to prevent complications first and review drug treatment regularly and to perform any required intervention in a timely manner before any complications occur
- Every family in which one of its members suffers from cardiomyopathy (increased thickness of the heart muscle) (HCM) should undergo early examination By conducting an echo to ensure that its members do not have this enlargement and follow up if necessary.
