How Can You Prevent Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy?
A 56-year-old woman from Kerala discovered she has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Once confirmed, doctors advised tests for other family members and found that three generations of her family — around 16 persons — had abnormal genomes, and five others in the family had died before the age of 25. This is the reality of hereditary heart disease.
What is Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy?
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a complex genetic disorder characterised by abnormal thickening of the heart muscle, particularly in the left ventricle, which can lead to difficulty in pumping blood and serious complications including sudden cardiac death.
Causes and Genetics
HCM is caused by mutations in genes that regulate the growth and function of cardiac muscle cells. The most common genes are MYH7 and MYBPC3. Other associated genes include TNNT2, TNNI3, TPM1, and MYL2. HCM is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern — each child of an affected parent has a 50% chance of inheriting the mutation.
Symptoms
Some people experience shortness of breath, chest pain, fainting, heart palpitations, and fatigue. Others may have no symptoms at all — making genetic testing and family screening critical for early detection.
Dr Sharath Reddy Annam (Senior Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, Medicover Hospitals): “Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is genetic and happens when the heart walls thicken and prevent blood from passing through the heart. Unmanaged high blood pressure, ageing, diabetes, or thyroid disease can lead to it.”
Diagnosis
Diagnosis typically involves a physical exam, echocardiography, and genetic testing to identify the underlying mutation. Genetic testing can confirm the specific mutation responsible for HCM and enable cascade testing of family members.
Treatment
Treatment options include medications (beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, anti-arrhythmic drugs), lifestyle modifications (avoiding strenuous exercise), implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), and in severe cases, surgical procedures such as septal myectomy or septal ablation.
How MapmyGenome Can Help
HCM is now a treatable form of heart disease and patients are able to live normal, long lives — if detected early. Genomepatri screens your genetic risk for HCM and 100+ other conditions. CardioMap focuses specifically on cardiovascular diseases including heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
Know Your Genetic Heart Risk Before It’s Too Late
Genomepatri and CardioMap by MapmyGenome screen your genetic predisposition to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and other hereditary heart conditions — enabling early detection, family screening, and proactive risk management.
