What is Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy?
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy or HCM / HOCM is a rare condition that is associated with sudden death in young athletes caused by abnormal thickening of the walls of the heart.
What is the cause of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy?
The actual cause of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy HOCM / HCM may not yet be clearly understood or known, but it is thought that a genetic predisposition for the disorder may be inherited.
Can anabolic steroids play a role in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy?
Reports have linked steroid use with an increased left ventricular mass, HOCM, and sudden death in athletes. Steroid use has also been linked to increase size of the heart’s chambers as well as impaired function.
How common is Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy?
The exact frequency of the disorder still remains unknown, but it is estimated that between 1-in-500 to 1-in-1000 births could be affected by Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.
What are the complications of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy?
Arrythmias and irregularities of the heart are common complications of HOCM and Heart Block and Sudden death in young, otherwise healthy athletes occurs without warning. Athletes are particularly at risk since physical activity increases the likeliness of triggering the arrhythmias that lead to sudden death.
How common is it for athletes die from Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy?
Research shows that Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy is THE most common cause of death in young athletes. A disproportionate amount of young athletes die each year from cardio-vascular disorders which include Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy as a result of sports participation. Congenital abnormalities of the blood vessels in the heart are the second most common cardiovascular cause of death in young athletes.
How can Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy of the Heart be detected?
A thorough physical wiith diagnostic testing by one of our experienced concierge physicians will detect Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.
Will the normal pre-participation physical performed at the school detect Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy?
The sobering answer is NO! Sudden Death in Athletes at school often happens even though the school performed a physical on the student. Only direct visualization of the heart during a Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Test can rule out HCM.
To learn more about our screening for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM / HCMO) in Los Angeles and how to detect the risk of athlete sudden death, please give us a call directly at 877-760-3570 or Contact Us. We can schedule your today Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Screening Test today!