HCM is Considered the Top Cause of Cardiac Death for Young Athletes
- While rare, a heart condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common cause of sudden cardiac death in young athletes (under age 35).
- This condition, which makes it harder for the heart to pump blood, can be passed down through families or develop over time.
- Someone who has a parent with HCM has a 50% change of having a genetic mutation for the disease as well.
- It’s important to be aware of family health history, as well as lifestyle factors that increase the risk of heart conditions like HCM.
A small percentage of people with the disease can develop life-threatening heart rhythms (arrhythmias) and the condition can also lead to sudden death. The disease is often passed down through family members, however, recent research has suggested that the number of HCM cases in the U.S. will spike in coming years due to lifestyle factors that can put people at risk, such as obesity and excessive alcohol consumption.
Read More- Shortness of breath (may be on exertion, meaning during or after exercise)
- Chest pains
- Chronic fatigue
- Feeling faint
- Fainting
How Common is HCM in young athletes?
Studies looking into the incidence of HCM in athletes under age 35 show varying results, so it is difficult to peg down exactly how common the disease is however, a general consensus is that the disease is still very rare. A large study on sudden cardiac death, cited by the NLBI, found that HCM was the condition that caused death in nearly 40% of 1,866 young athletes studied. Nearly two-thirds of those athletes were 17 years old or younger.
The rates of the sudden cardiac death vary a lot depending on what subset of the U.S. population is being studied. Data in the U.S. suggests the incidence could range from 0.5 to 13 per 100,000 people. Studies have found that the condition is more common in male athletes, particularly black males who compete is sports with sudden movements and bursts of adrenaline, like football or baseball.
How is HCM treated?
How HCM is treated depends a lot on the individual patient and the severity of the disease. In some instances, simple lifestyle modifications may be sufficient, while in others, beta blockers (drugs used to manage abnormal heart rhythms) or pacemakers (devices that help the heart to pump blood) may be required. Dr. Philip Weintraub, a cardiology specialist based in New York City, also noted that a HCM diagnosis should be looked at as a “lifestyle changer.”
Dr. Philip Weintraub shares insight on how people with HCM should prioritize healthy habits.
Dr. Weintraub suggested prioritizing habits, such as:
- Moderate exercise
- Avoiding isometrics exercises like weight lifting
- Maintaining weight
- Getting on a healthy sleep schedule
- Discussing/managing stress
- Avoiding substances that put strain on the heart
"You want to [stay] at a healthy weight," he added. "You don't want to put more strain on an overstrained system by allowing obesity to settle in. Sleep is [also] very important. Sleep must be obtained because people who don't sleep well and develop sleep apnea compromise their general health."
Questions to Ask Your Doctor:
- What can I do if I begin to feel symptoms associated with a heart condition like HCM?
- If I have a family history, should I undergo tests before participating in athletic events?
- What can I do to reduce my risk of developing a condition like HCM in the future?
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