Hardening of the heart most accurately refers to a condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), where the heart muscle, particularly in the left ventricle, thickens and stiffens. This thickening makes it harder for the heart to pump blood effectively.
Understanding Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)
HCM affects the heart's ability to function properly, leading to various complications.
Key Characteristics of HCM:
- Thickening of the Heart Muscle: The walls of the left ventricle (the heart's main pumping chamber) become abnormally thick.
- Stiffening of the Heart Muscle: The thickened muscle becomes less flexible, impairing its ability to relax and fill with blood between heartbeats.
- Reduced Blood Flow: The thickened muscle can obstruct blood flow out of the heart.
- Irregular Heartbeats (Arrhythmias): HCM can lead to dangerous heart rhythm abnormalities.
How HCM Affects the Heart
HCM disrupts the normal cardiac cycle:
- Diastole (Filling): The stiffened ventricle struggles to relax fully, reducing the amount of blood it can receive.
- Systole (Pumping): The thickened muscle can impede blood ejection, lowering the amount of blood pumped out with each beat.
Potential Complications of HCM
- Heart Failure: Over time, the heart's inability to pump efficiently can lead to heart failure.
- Sudden Cardiac Arrest: HCM can trigger life-threatening arrhythmias, leading to sudden cardiac arrest, especially during strenuous activity.
- Atrial Fibrillation: Irregular heartbeats in the atria can increase the risk of stroke.
Diagnosis and Treatment
- Echocardiogram: An ultrasound of the heart to visualize the thickened muscle.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG): Records the electrical activity of the heart.
- Medications: Beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and antiarrhythmics to manage symptoms and prevent complications.
- Surgery: Septal myectomy (surgical removal of part of the thickened septum).
- Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD): To prevent sudden cardiac arrest.
