Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Alternate Names : Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy, Idiopathic Hypertrophic Subaortic Stenosis

What can be done to prevent the condition?

There are no known ways to prevent hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

What are the long-term effects of the condition?

The long-term effects of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are hard to predict. There is an increased risk of abnormal heartbeats, called arrhythmias, and heart infections, called endocarditis.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy also causes an increased risk of sudden death. This risk is not related to how severe the person's symptoms are. It is not known why sudden death occurs, but in most cases it is thought to be due to arrhythmias.

What are the risks to others?

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is not contagious, but it may be inherited by an affected person's children. Genetic counseling may be helpful to couples with a family history of this condition.