{"id":340890,"date":"2025-08-13T10:21:10","date_gmt":"2025-08-13T10:21:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/340890\/"},"modified":"2025-08-13T10:21:10","modified_gmt":"2025-08-13T10:21:10","slug":"is-hypertrophic-cardiomyopathy-genetic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/340890\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Genetic?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy<\/a> (HCM) affects about 1 in 250 to 500 people in the U.S.<\/p>\n

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And many people may not realize they have HCM \u2014\u00a0a type of heart disease that thickens your heart muscle.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve been recently diagnosed with HCM, you may be full of questions. One question might be: Is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy genetic?<\/p>\n

Does hypertrophic cardiomyopathy run in families?<\/p>\n

HCM is primarily a genetic condition. Known genetic mutations (gene changes) are identified in about 60% of HCM cases, says cardiologist Maran Thamilarasan, MD<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If one parent has one of the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy genes, each child has a 50% chance of inheriting it. And both types of HCM \u2014 obstructive (blocks blood flow) and nonobstructive (doesn\u2019t block blood flow) \u2014 can be inherited.<\/p>\n

And while we know there\u2019s a connection between your genes and HCM, there\u2019s still more that researchers need to learn about familial HCM. For example, researchers continue to discover additional genes that may be responsible for HCM.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe also don\u2019t know yet what may cause a gene to \u2018turn on,\u2019\u201d explains Dr. Thamilarasan. \u201cWe don\u2019t really know what percentage of people with these altered genes will develop HCM. One study<\/a> suggests that about 16% of people who are gene-positive developed phenotypic evidence (traits or characteristics that can be measured) for the disease over the course of a seven-year follow-up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Should your family get genetic testing?<\/p>\n

If you have HCM, your close family members \u2014 parents, siblings and children \u2014 should consider genetic testing<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cOften, we don\u2019t make a diagnosis early enough,\u201d says Dr. Thamilarasan. \u201cSome people with the condition are at higher risk for cardiac events, and we need to know about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

During a genetic test, a sample of your blood or saliva is used to look for changes in your genes. In addition to genetic testing, your healthcare provider may use other screening tests, like an exercise stress echo test<\/a>, cardiac event monitor<\/a> and cardiac MRI<\/a>, to diagnose HCM.<\/p>\n

Another reason why genetic testing is so vital? Other diseases can have similar symptoms, notes Dr. Thamilarasan.<\/p>\n

Symptoms like chest pain and palpitations, dizziness, shortness of breath, fatigue and edema (swelling) can lead doctors down other potential paths like coronary artery disease (CAD)<\/a>, pulmonary disease or even allergies.<\/p>\n

Genetic testing can also identify other medical conditions that may cause thicker heart muscles, known as HCM \u201cphencopies,\u201d reports Dr. Thamilarasan.<\/p>\n

\u201cHypertension can mimic HCM. Cardiac amyloidosis<\/a> or Fabry disease<\/a> can also give the same clinical picture. If these other diseases are present, it might require a different treatment pathway,\u201d he continues. \u201cWe want to assess for these.\u201d<\/p>\n

What to do if you\u2019re high risk<\/p>\n

While HCM is a lifelong condition, there are steps you can take to protect your heart and prevent complications like atrial fibrillation (AFib)<\/a>, congestive heart failure<\/a> or sudden cardiac arrest<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also important to understand how HCM can affect your heart. The genes that may cause HCM are ones that are responsible for the structure of the heart muscle. While HCM can impact any part of your heart\u2019s muscle, it traditionally affects the septum (the middle wall). This can lead to outflow tract obstruction (or blockage). But thickness in other locations can lead to symptoms, both from stiffness in your heart, as well as restricting the amount of space your heart\u2019s left ventricle<\/a> has to pump blood.<\/p>\n

Depending on your risk and symptoms, your healthcare provider may recommend following a heart-healthy lifestyle, which includes eating heart-healthy foods, focusing on quality sleep and engaging in regular physical activity.<\/p>\n

They may also recommend medications like:<\/p>\n