Staying Active After an HCM Diagnosis
- Living with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) can be challenging for some, but there are lifestyle changes — like regular exercise — that can help.
- People with HCM should talk to their doctors about which types of exercise they can do and which to avoid.
- Because strenuous activity can make the condition worse, certain workouts should be avoided. However, moderate activity is encouraged by experts.
For people living with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), exercise can play an important role in managing the disease. But not all types of exercise are ideal for HCM patients. Here’s what we’ve learned from two SurvivorNet experts.
What Is Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy?
Before we dive in to the topic of exercise, let’s clarify exactly what we mean by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM. HCM is a disease where the heart muscle becomes abnormally thickened which can make it more difficult for this organ to pump blood. This, in turn, can lead to various complications and, in a small number of cases, life-threatening abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) or even sudden death.
A doctor may suspect you have HCM if you come to them with the following symptoms:
- Chest pain, especially during exercise
- Fainting, especially during or immediately after exercise
- Heart murmur (an extra noise heard during heartbeat)
- Sensation of rapid blood, fluttering or pounding heart beats
- Shortness of breath, especially during exercise
- Fatigue
Additionally, your doctor might think you have HCM if a close family member has the disease, but it’s important to note that not all people with HCM have a documented family history or even display symptoms.
“There could be no symptoms, and, if there are symptoms, typically they will start off as shortness of breath, or … shortness of breath on exertion,” Dr. Philip Weintraub, a cardiology specialist based in New York, told SurvivorNet. “The development can progress to where there will be chest pains. There could be chronic fatigue. There could be elements of feeling faint [or] passing out.
“So, the spectrum is rather great, and it is associated with the severity of the cardiomyopathy itself. Symptoms, when they occur, generally lead to a dialogue between patient and physician and the physician must keep all options open as to what might be going on.”
Treatment for people with HCM can vary from case to case depending upon factors like your overall health and the severity of the disease. But even people who do not need immediate treatment should consider making changes that will allow them to better take care of themselves.
Living with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Some people may be able to avoid medical interventions by changing their lifestyle and implementing healthy habits. And as we’ve said before, HCM is condition of the heart. So doing things to take care of your heart are important.
“HCM must be looked at as a lifestyle changer,” Dr. Weintraub said.
His advice? For starters, he wants people with HCM to avoid any illicit drugs and cut back on alcohol.
“You don’t want to invite other agents that might be toxic to the heart muscle,” he said. “You do not want to use illicit drugs, especially cocaine. You don’t want to use alcohol because alcohol itself could act as a depressant.”
Otherwise, he recommends HCM patients adopt the following healthy habits.
- Moderate exercise
- Maintaining weight
- Getting on a healthy sleep schedule
- Discussing/managing stress
- Avoiding substances that put strain on the heart
- Minimizing your salt intake
Additionally, Dr. Weintraub wants people with HCM to prioritize finding a strong support system as they navigate life with the disease.
“You need to live in an environment where you can share what’s going on with you because we see many patients who are afraid of what’s wrong with them, withdraw, isolate and develop certain types of depressions,” he explained.
Exercise for People with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Now that we know exercising is a recommendation for HCM patients, let’s talk about exactly what that should look like.
First of all, Dr. Weintraub says people with HCM should avoid isometric exercises — which are exercises that involve the contraction of muscles without any movement in the surrounding joints — such as weight lifting.
“You want to exercise regularly, but to avoid isometrics weight lifting,” Dr. Weintraub said. “You want to keep your weight at a healthy weight. You don’t want to put more strain on an over strained system by allowing obesity to settle in.”
Dr. Aeshita Dwivedi, a non-invasive cardiologist at Lenox Hill Hospital, also spoke with SurvivorNet about the importance of exercise.
“Living with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can be challenging for a lot of people,” she told SurvivorNet. “But it is important that you follow up with your doctor regularly, you get the right treatment. But in addition to that, it’s also important that you remain active, which means moderate activity.”
“Moderate activity” will look different from person to person. For some, it may mean going on 20-minute walks a few times a week, while others may be able to engage in slightly more strenuous activities. Your doctor should be able to offer recommendations based on your individual situation and overall health.
“A lot of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are restricted from doing strenuous activity because it can actually make their condition worse, but it’s important to still say active,” Dr. Dwivedi said.
She even mentioned that people with HCM should consider “a supervised exercise program” to help them stay active in a safe way.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
- What forms of exercise would you recommend me doing?
- Are there any activities I should avoid because of HCM?
- Are there any important lifestyle changes I should be making besides exercising?
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Staying Active After an HCM Diagnosis
- Living with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) can be challenging for some, but there are lifestyle changes — like regular exercise — that can help.
- People with HCM should talk to their doctors about which types of exercise they can do and which to avoid.
- Because strenuous activity can make the condition worse, certain workouts should be avoided. However, moderate activity is encouraged by experts.
For people living with
hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), exercise can play an important role in managing the disease. But not all types of exercise are ideal for HCM patients. Here’s what we’ve learned from two SurvivorNet experts.
What Is Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy?
Before we dive in to the topic of exercise, let’s clarify exactly what we mean by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM. HCM is a disease where the heart muscle becomes abnormally thickened which can make it more difficult for this organ to pump blood. This, in turn, can lead to various complications and, in a small number of cases, life-threatening abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) or even sudden death.
Read More A doctor may suspect you have HCM if you come to them with the following symptoms:
- Chest pain, especially during exercise
- Fainting, especially during or immediately after exercise
- Heart murmur (an extra noise heard during heartbeat)
- Sensation of rapid blood, fluttering or pounding heart beats
- Shortness of breath, especially during exercise
- Fatigue
Additionally, your doctor might think you have HCM if a close family member has the disease, but it’s important to note that not all people with HCM have a documented family history or even display symptoms.
“There could be no symptoms, and, if there are symptoms, typically they will start off as shortness of breath, or … shortness of breath on exertion,” Dr. Philip Weintraub, a cardiology specialist based in New York, told SurvivorNet. “The development can progress to where there will be chest pains. There could be chronic fatigue. There could be elements of feeling faint [or] passing out.
“So, the spectrum is rather great, and it is associated with the severity of the cardiomyopathy itself. Symptoms, when they occur, generally lead to a dialogue between patient and physician and the physician must keep all options open as to what might be going on.”
Treatment for people with HCM can vary from case to case depending upon factors like your overall health and the severity of the disease. But even people who do not need immediate treatment should consider making changes that will allow them to better take care of themselves.
Living with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Some people may be able to avoid medical interventions by changing their lifestyle and implementing healthy habits. And as we’ve said before, HCM is condition of the heart. So doing things to take care of your heart are important.
“HCM must be looked at as a lifestyle changer,” Dr. Weintraub said.
His advice? For starters, he wants people with HCM to avoid any illicit drugs and cut back on alcohol.
“You don’t want to invite other agents that might be toxic to the heart muscle,” he said. “You do not want to use illicit drugs, especially cocaine. You don’t want to use alcohol because alcohol itself could act as a depressant.”
Otherwise, he recommends HCM patients adopt the following healthy habits.
- Moderate exercise
- Maintaining weight
- Getting on a healthy sleep schedule
- Discussing/managing stress
- Avoiding substances that put strain on the heart
- Minimizing your salt intake
Additionally, Dr. Weintraub wants people with HCM to prioritize finding a strong support system as they navigate life with the disease.
“You need to live in an environment where you can share what’s going on with you because we see many patients who are afraid of what’s wrong with them, withdraw, isolate and develop certain types of depressions,” he explained.
Exercise for People with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Now that we know exercising is a recommendation for HCM patients, let’s talk about exactly what that should look like.
First of all, Dr. Weintraub says people with HCM should avoid isometric exercises — which are exercises that involve the contraction of muscles without any movement in the surrounding joints — such as weight lifting.
“You want to exercise regularly, but to avoid isometrics weight lifting,” Dr. Weintraub said. “You want to keep your weight at a healthy weight. You don’t want to put more strain on an over strained system by allowing obesity to settle in.”
Dr. Aeshita Dwivedi, a non-invasive cardiologist at Lenox Hill Hospital, also spoke with SurvivorNet about the importance of exercise.
“Living with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can be challenging for a lot of people,” she told SurvivorNet. “But it is important that you follow up with your doctor regularly, you get the right treatment. But in addition to that, it’s also important that you remain active, which means moderate activity.”
“Moderate activity” will look different from person to person. For some, it may mean going on 20-minute walks a few times a week, while others may be able to engage in slightly more strenuous activities. Your doctor should be able to offer recommendations based on your individual situation and overall health.
“A lot of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are restricted from doing strenuous activity because it can actually make their condition worse, but it’s important to still say active,” Dr. Dwivedi said.
She even mentioned that people with HCM should consider “a supervised exercise program” to help them stay active in a safe way.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
- What forms of exercise would you recommend me doing?
- Are there any activities I should avoid because of HCM?
- Are there any important lifestyle changes I should be making besides exercising?
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
