Nowadays, heart ailments are on a steep rise. An erratic work schedule and the stress associated with it make people prey to cardiac problems. One such ailment that is often heard of is Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. In simple terms, this is a specific heart ailment that causes the heart muscles to enlarge. Let us tell you more about this problem, its symptoms, and treatment.
What is Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy can affect your heart in the following ways:
- Thickening of the heart muscles
- Changes in the Mitral valve
- Stiffness in the left ventricle
Since this problem thickens your heart muscles, it blocks the flow of the flood. When the blood flow is affected, it will impact the heart's processes.
Symptoms of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Let us now first tell you about the symptoms of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.
Chest pain- This is the most common symptom of Cardiomyopathy as well as Myocarditis. Usually, this happens after strenuous exercise. Sometimes it arises after the patient has rested or has had his meal.
Difficulty during breathing- Some people face difficulty in breathing, mainly after they have exerted themselves.
Fainting- Due to irregular heart rhythm, the patient might faint or pass out suddenly.
Palpitations- Fluttering in the heart or palpitations can be another symptom of Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Swelling in the lower part of the body and in the lower veins
Treatments
Once your cardiologist has identified that you are suffering from Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, he will suggest treatments. His suggestions would depend on the following factors:
- If you have blocking in the outflow tract of your heart
- How the heart is functioning at that time
- Type of symptoms
- Age and health condition
The treatment that the cardiologist suggests would be a combination of or any of the following:
- Regular follow-ups and identifying the risk
- Changes in lifestyle
- Medicines
- Surgeries
Some procedures that are conducted to take care of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy are as follows.
Septal Myectomy- This procedure involves removing a small amount of wall of your septal wall. This would broaden the outflow tract and allow the blood to flow without any obstructions. If the medicines have been ineffective, your doctor may suggest a Myectomy.
Ethanol Ablation- If a person is unable to have septal myectomy, he is suggested an Ethanol Ablation. Here the cardiologist would find that the coronary artery delivers blood to the upper part of the septum.
Implantable cardioverter defibrillator- Also known as ICD, this device is placed under your skin. This device, through wires, constantly monitors your heartbeat. If there is an irregular rhythm, the device will send energy to bring it back to normalcy.
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