Treatment is aimed at control of symptoms and prevention of complications. Some patients may require hospitalization until the condition is stabilized.

The thick ventricles of HCM contract and relax abnormally, and to assist the relaxation phase some drugs may be necessary. These include beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers such as verapamil, which improve exercise tolerance and reduce chest pain.

When severe blood outflow blockage exists, an operation called myotomy-myectomy (heart muscle cutting-heart muscle removal) often results in marked improvement. Replacement of the mitral valve during the same surgery is necessary in some HCM patients with mitral valve regurgitation.

Some people with arrhythmias may need antiarrhythmic medications. If the arrhythmia is atrial fibrillation, the risk of embolization (blood clots breaking away from the atrium and clooging arteries in the body) may need to be reduced with anticoagulation.

Patients with HCM and potentially lethal arrhythmias may need to receive an implantable-cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) to prevent sudden death. An ICD is usually the treatment of choice also in patients with HCM resucitated from sudden death.

Some affected individuals remain without symptoms for many years and have a normal life span, yet some may deteriorate gradually or rapidly. Progression into dilated cardiomyopathy occurs in some patients.

Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are at higher risk for sudden death than the normal population, and can be affected at a young age. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a well known cause of sudden death in athletes. People with HCM should follow their doctor's advice about physical exercise and medical appointments.

Young patients with HCM planning to start a family may benefit from genetic counseling.

• severe injury or trauma from fainting
• cardiac arrhythmias, including lethal arrhythmias
• congestive heart failure
• dilated cardiomyopathy

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if:

• symptoms indicate hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may be present.
• chest pain, palpitations, faintness or other new or unexplained symptoms develop.