versized heart -hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

[auto78900]

I have been told I have an oversized heart -hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

I get chest pains ,but the Doctors say I must have the flu. I am scared it may kill me like in this link - http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/274/5294/1843g

What should I do ?

[grendslori]

With all due respect Doctor, HCM does not always lead to obstruction (HOCM). A patient can have significant thickness of even 4cm without obstruction and never need a myectomy. Only a very few patients ever end up in CHF and those that do, do so in the End Stage of this disease. This is a form of Diastolic Heart Failure as opposed to Systolic Heart failure which is seen in CHF. Sometimes diuretics are used in HCM patients to avoid having too much fluid in the body. Most of the time there is a genetic component involved, but this disease can also be sporatic in nature.

[Dr J Singh]

Hi,

In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the heart muscle fibers become bigger & irregular in size. In this condition, there’s also an obstruction in the outflow of the blood from the aorta due to the abnormal motion of the aortic valve resulting in the obstruction. The exact cause of this condition is not known. HCM can lead to CHF. However, in this diuretics which are routinely used in CHF are not used. The drug of choice is beta blockers which you’re taking and most of the patients are well controlled on the medical management. However, some patients may require surgical treatment in the form of myectomy in which a portion of the muscle is surgically removed when the ventricle wall becomes significantly thickened. Flu vaccine is indicated in patients who have chronic heart conditions and it’s one of the safe vaccines and thus you need not worry at all and should get the shot. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care.

[suefrances]

my abdominal aorta is 3.7 , i am at risk for rupture

[kevk]

I agree with grendslori, I have HOCM and get chest pain now and then. You may need to be checked out by another doctor.  The last time I had bad pain they increased my beta blocker and it seemed to help.

[grendslori]

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can cause heart related chest pain because of the lack of blood flow to the heart muscle wall which is too thick. You need to find a GOOD cardiologist who will take you seriously. Try someone at the Mayo or Cleveland Clinic.