Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy occurs when the muscle mass of the left ventricle of the heart is thicker than normal, or the wall between the two ventricles (septum) becomes enlarged and obstructs the blood flow from the left ventricle. Because it prevents the heart from properly relaxing between beats, it fills with less blood, which limits the amount of blood pumped by the heart with each beat. A heart murmur may be heard, which is related to the obstruction below the aortic valve (valve between the left ventricle and the aorta).

This is a rare disease and in most cases it is inherited.

It can affect men and women of all ages, and symptoms can appear in childhood or adulthood

Symptoms include shortness of breath on exertion, dizziness, fainting, and angina pectoris.

Some patients experience cardiac arrhythmias, which may lead to sudden death.