Heart Transplant
IU Health provides heart transplant services for adults and children with heart failure or other heart conditions.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Helping your heartbeat ease back into a normal rhythm
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a rare, congenital heart disease. The muscles in the walls of the left ventricle are thickened and prevent your heart from beating correctly.
This condition can lead to heart failure and increased risk of stroke, heart attack and arrhythmias. This can cause sudden death in some cases.
The left ventricle is the chamber of your heart that pumps blood out into your body. When the walls are thickened, blood is not able to effectively leave the heart. If hypertrophic cardiomyopathy causes issues with your heart valves, blood also flows backward into the left atrium. It pools in the bottom of that chamber.
Symptoms of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
You may not have any symptoms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Instead, it may be detected during a routine exam. Signs of the condition include:
- Chest pain
- Dizziness
- Fainting episodes
- Heart murmur, especially in young people
- High blood pressure
- Shortness of breath
Understanding Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
The left ventricle is the chamber of your heart that pumps blood out into your body. When the walls are thickened, blood is not able to effectively leave the heart. If hypertrophic cardiomyopathy causes issues with your heart valves, blood also flows backward into the left atrium. It pools in the bottom of that chamber.
Symptoms of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
You may not have any symptoms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Instead, it may be detected during a routine exam. Signs of the condition include:
- Chest pain
- Dizziness
- Fainting episodes
- Heart murmur, especially in young people
- High blood pressure
- Shortness of breath
Advanced diagnostic techniques for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy include:
Echocardiogram
Using sound waves, your doctor can see the size and movement of your heart muscles. Learn more about echocardiogram at IU Health.
Chest X-ray
Your doctor can use chest X-rays to examine you for an enlarged heart.
Electrocardiogram
By monitoring the electrical activity of your heart, your doctor can see if it is having difficulty pumping blood.
Diagnosis
Advanced diagnostic techniques for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy include:
Echocardiogram
Using sound waves, your doctor can see the size and movement of your heart muscles. Learn more about echocardiogram at IU Health.
Chest X-ray
Your doctor can use chest X-rays to examine you for an enlarged heart.
Electrocardiogram
By monitoring the electrical activity of your heart, your doctor can see if it is having difficulty pumping blood.
Many treatments are available to manage hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Treatment will depend on the severity of your condition. Treatment may include:
Medicine Therapy
Medicines help your heart pump stronger, reduce your risk for stroke by preventing blood clots and get rid of fluids backing up in your body.
Heart Valve Replacement
If your heart valves are damaged by cardiomyopathy, you can have surgery to replace them and improve your heart function.
Implantable Cardioverter
This device uses electrical impulses to regulate your heartbeat.
Biventricular Pacing
This pacemaker synchronizes the left and right sides of your heart for more efficient beating.
Septal Myectomy
If medicines do not work, this open heart surgery to remove some of the enlarged tissue may increase your heart’s ability to pump blood.
Septal Ablation
In this minimally invasive procedure, alcohol is injected directly into the left ventricle. It destroys tissue and reduces the size of the muscles.
Heart Transplant
If hypertrophic cardiomyopathy leads to severe heart failure, a heart transplant is necessary.
What are Treatment Options for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy?
Many treatments are available to manage hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Treatment will depend on the severity of your condition. Treatment may include:
Medicine Therapy
Medicines help your heart pump stronger, reduce your risk for stroke by preventing blood clots and get rid of fluids backing up in your body.
Heart Valve Replacement
If your heart valves are damaged by cardiomyopathy, you can have surgery to replace them and improve your heart function.
Implantable Cardioverter
This device uses electrical impulses to regulate your heartbeat.
Biventricular Pacing
This pacemaker synchronizes the left and right sides of your heart for more efficient beating.
Septal Myectomy
If medicines do not work, this open heart surgery to remove some of the enlarged tissue may increase your heart’s ability to pump blood.
Septal Ablation
In this minimally invasive procedure, alcohol is injected directly into the left ventricle. It destroys tissue and reduces the size of the muscles.
Heart Transplant
If hypertrophic cardiomyopathy leads to severe heart failure, a heart transplant is necessary.
Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program
This special program at Riley Children's Health offers comprehensive care for adults who have congenital heart disease and provides care for all aspects of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute
This website explores the causes, signs and treatments of cardiomyopathy.
Resources
Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program
This special program at Riley Children's Health offers comprehensive care for adults who have congenital heart disease and provides care for all aspects of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute
This website explores the causes, signs and treatments of cardiomyopathy.
