Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Essay

Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a disease that mainly affects the apex of the heart and does not cause any obstruction. [1] These abnormalities in the heart muscle can cause a wide variety of symptoms. As the heart becomes stiff it increases the pressure in the left ventricle which can push blood back into the lungs, causing shortness of breath in exercise. Chest pain can occur as there is not enough oxygen available to the cardiac muscle due to insufficient blood supply. Palpitations and lightheadedness, along with other conditions can occur as a result of HCM. In addition to these discomforting symptoms, the patient may develop an arrhythmias that often goes unnoticed. An arrhythmia takes place as the electrical conduction of the heart is disturbed by the abnormal scattering of myocytes. The two most common arrhythmias are atrial fibrillation causing palpitations, and ventricular tachycardia that can be life threatening causing sudden death. Both conditions can be controlled with medication. [4]

Left-sided heart failure is the most common type of heart failure, and it is a result of left-ventricular dysfunction. This disease poses a significant threat to patients because the primary function of the left side of the heart is to provide sufficient oxygenated blood to satisfy the metabolic demands of the body’s cells. Understanding the main function of this portion of the heart will help with the understanding of other complications associated with this diseased. Left-sided heart failure is usually the result of the loss of heart muscle function, specifically in the left ventricle secondary to coronary artery disease, prolonged hypertension, or myocardial infection (Lewis et al. 2014, 766). The

Heart failure affects nearly 6 million Americans. It is the leading cause of hospitalization in people older than 65. Roughly 550,000 people are diagnosed with heart failure each year (Emory Healthcare, 2014). Heart failure is a pathologic state where the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the demand of the body’s metabolic needs or when the ventricle’s ability to fill is impaired. It is not a disease, but rather a complex clinical syndrome. The symptoms of heart failure come from pulmonary vascular congestion and inadequate perfusion of the systemic circulation. Individuals experience orthopnea,

*Both sides of the heart are doing this at the same exact time and contracting/relaxing is what pumps the blood from one place to the other.

Treatment effectiveness has been defined as a clinically significant benefit to the patient, with the objective of the patient living for longer or better, or both, than if they did not receive the treatment (Wilson et.al., 2015). This measure of efficacy might be shown by symptomatic improvement, or improvement in established disease progression endpoints (Wilson et.al., 2015). Since clinical trial endpoints have profound effects on late phase clinical trial design, result interpretation, drug development, and regulatory approval of therapeutics, the characteristics of the disease and

The present report argues that the 3 identified sources, are published in high-ranked journals and based on sufficient patient population, thereby constituting a strong research evidence for addressing the established research question.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy is also known as HCM. It is a genetic condition in which the myocardium or heart muscle in the left ventricle is thickened. HCM cannot be identified by a single complaint or symptom as it is different for every person that it affects. This disease not only causes left ventricle hypertrophy but can also cause ventricle stiffness, mitral valve changes, and other cellular changes.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, HCM is a cardiac disorder with a genetic etiology, characterized by hypertrophy of the myocardium It is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the affected population. Both men and women are affected equally and people of any age and race are at risk of developing HCM. It is the most common cause of sudden cardiac death SCD in young adults, especially athletes.

(100-300 subjects).12 Phase 3 clinical trials are conducted in a large group of subjects with

Pharmacologic interventions are used to prevent blood clots from occurring in the body. Coronary vasodilators and antithrombotic drugs are used to increase oxygen delivery to the myocardium. Vasodilators and cardiac depressants, which decrease heart rate and contractility), are drugs used to decrease the oxygen demand. A decrease in demand compensates for the lack of oxygen going to the myocardium . Vasodilators include calcium channel blockers and nitrodilators; cardioinhibitory drugs include beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers; and antithrombotic drugs include anticoagulants and antiplatelet

HCM is described as a thickening of the left ventricular muscle, with no apparent cause. It involves the basal and mid-interventricular septum, which predisposes to dynamic obstruction of the left ventricular outflow. This is due to the systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve and

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac rhythm disorder with evidence suggesting an increasing prevalence and incidence worldwide [1]. It is the most common arrhythmia seen in clinical practice and is associated with plenty of morbidities and mortalities, e.g. stroke and heart failure. The clinical subtypes of AF are paroxysmal, persistent, longstanding persistent and permanent AF. Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is defined as atrial fibrillation that is self-terminating, usually within 48 h. Persistent atrial fibrillation is present when an episode of atrial fibrillation either lasts longer than 7 days or needs cardioversion. Longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation has lasted for 1 year or more and is when arrhythmia

To conclude, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the cardiac sarcomere disorder, has been brought to the forefront of our attentions due to its rare yet fatal effects in young athletes; however, it is frequently asymptomatic and relatively common. In most cases, HCM will have no bearing on the person’s quality of life or lifespan. However, a minority, particularly young athletes, may be of an exception, with the myocardial disarray and thickened ventricular wall leading to complications. Dr Tom Riddington of the Guardian quotes: “since the 19th century more than 80 footballers are known to have died suddenly while playing, all young men, all otherwise apparently fit and healthy.” This highlights its significance with relation to sudden

Ryan Gillyard is a fifteen-year-old athlete boy who was passionate to play Division I college football. He was a “linebacker” and “running back” in football. He lived in Upper Darby and passed away on April 18, 2015.

While hypertrophic cardiomyopathy often goes undiagnosed, more severe cases will show symptoms. Most cases are not diagnosed because there are no symptoms or because the patient can continue going about life without any significant struggles. It is usually hard to tell if someone has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy just by looking at them. When symptoms do occur, they include the following: shortness of breath and chest pain (especially during exercise), fainting, abnormal heart rhythms (arrythmias), or a heart murmur, which a doctor is able to detect by listening to the heart. It is important for someone with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy to visit a doctor if any of the above symptoms occur frequently, interrupting normal daily routines.