Causes and Diagnoses

Causes and Diagnoses of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is an inherited disease. In fact, there is a 50 percent chance that the children of a parent with HCM will inherit the genetic mutation for the disease. When both your parents have HCM, you have a 75 percent chance of being diagnosed with HCM. Other possible causes include aging and high blood pressure. In some cases, the cause of HCM is never identified.

The disease occurs when abnormal genes in your body cause your heart muscle to grow unusually thick. Often, only one part of your heart is thicker than the other parts. The thickening can make it harder for blood to leave your heart, forcing it to work harder to pump blood. It can also make it harder for your heart to relax and fill with blood, and can cause fluid to back up in your lungs. It may also affect your heart's electrical system.