For many people, HCM is a benign condition and it will not lead to dangerous cardiovascular disease, says Ningxin Wan, MD, a cardiologist at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens and an assistant professor at Weill Cornell Medicine. But that does not mean people who do not have symptoms should ignore follow-up appointments meant to monitor the condition, she says. Regular evaluation and preventive treatment is key to making sure that HCM doesn’t lead to a bad outcome.
“People who have HCM can live a normal lifestyle, unlike other heart diseases that really affect longevity, given that it is recognized and treated early on,” Wan says.
It’s also important to pay attention even to mild symptoms, and how they change over time.
“If I can get one message out to these patients it’s that we have treatments to help with symptoms and if you do not have symptoms, please do not forget that this is a condition that could get worse, and you need to monitor it,” Wan says.
Sudden Cardiac Death
The most severe complication of HCM is sudden cardiac arrest, in which the heart suddenly stops beating. Without emergency treatment, sudden cardiac arrest will result in death.
