Hypertroph Cardiomyopathy Research Paper
Hypertropic Cardiomyopathy
In 409 B.C. Pheidippides, a Greek soldier and a conditioned runner ran from Marathon to Athens, a distance of 26 miles, to announce military victory over Persia. After delivering his message he collapsed and died. Pheidippides is the earliest athlete documented to die from sudden cardiac death. Today heart diseases such as, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy , idiopathic left ventricular hypertrophy and congenital coronary artery anomalies, are the most common diseases that lead to sudden death in young athletes. Athletes, such as, professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics Reggie Lewis in 1993, collegiate basketball player from Loyola Marymount, Hank Gathers, and Olympic gold medal skater, Sergi Grinkov, in 1995, have each been victims of these diseases. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the main topic of this paper, is the most common cause of sudden cardiac death in young competitive athletes and the second most common form of heart muscle disease. It is important for athletes and non athletes alike to be informed of this disease and the effects it can have on all physically active people. …show more content…
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a congenital heart disease characterized by the abnormal thickening of the ventricular septum and the left ventricular wall.
Enlargement of the ventricular septum can result in ventricular overflow obstruction (sub-aortic stenosis) and even cardiomyopathy. This means hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a heart disease present from birth which can weaken the heart's pumping by the thickening of the ventricular septum and left ventricular creating a blockage where it is hard for the blood to pass through. It is believed to be a defect in the genes that control heart muscle growth (Sheridian
2006).
As you can see in the picture above, the right image of the heart is enlarged where the left ventricle is. Because hypertrophic cardiomyopathy causes the size of one of the heart chambers to shrink, the heart must work harder to pump blood. The thickening of the heart muscle may completly block the normal flow of blood out of the heart. It may also make it harder for the heart valves to work. Heart valves help control the direction of blood flow. Many people with hypertrophic myopathy have no symptoms. Sometimes the first and only symptom is sudden death. The heart chamber begins to beat so chaotically and fast that no blood is pumped, instead the heart quivers. For the few who do have symptoms, the most common are breathlessness and chest discomfort. Least common symptoms include fainting during physical activity, strong rapid heart beats, and fatigue. All of these symptoms, except fainting, regularly follow any type of rigorous physical activities; many people would ignore these symptoms. Fainting is the only symptom that team physicians, athletic trainers, or anyone training should never ignore. Fainting during physical activities is one of the warning signs of a potentially life threatening heart problem. Heart disease can cause a person to faint for many reasons. First, cardiac rhythm abnormality causes fainting with no warning symptoms. The heart's pumping ability is impaired and causes a decrease in blood flow. Second, an obstruction within the blood vessels in the chest can cause fainting. Third, heart failure can cause the heart's pumping ability to be impaired which then decreases blood flow to the brain (Wickelgren 2006). Besides heart problems, there are many other reasons as to why people faint, environmental factors (hot or crowded settings), emotional factors (stress), physical factors (standing with locked knees for too long), and illness factors (dehydration or low blood sugar). For this reason, a handbook for team physicians states that "an athlete who faints inexplicably during a game or practice should undergo a thorough evaluation before being allowed to compete again (Coach and Director Handbook)."
Primary Care and Sports Medicine Physicians are often asked to screen athletes for rare cardiac diseases that may predispose them to sudden death. Junior High Schools, High Schools, Colleges, and professional teams are all required to take a pre-preparation physical examination (PPE) to play sports. Although young kids are not required to have a PPE done, many doctors and coaches are now encouraging these kids to do so. In these physicals a brief medical history and physical examination is taken. The physical examination consists of a record of your height and weight, a blood pressure reading, vision test, a check of heart, lungs, abdomen, ears, nose, and throat, and an evaluation of posture, joints, strength, and flexibility. But, only some schools, in some states, require that a PPE include an electrocardiogram, or EKG. An EKG measures the electrical activity of a person's heart. Doctors might also use tests such as, Transesophageal echocardiogram, Chest X-Ray, 24 hour Holter monitor or heart monitor, or cardiac catheterization. If you are diagnosed with this, doctors may have your close blood relatives screened as well to rule them out.
The main treatment for this condition is to prevent complications and to control the symptoms. Some patients may need to stay hospitalized until the condition is under control or stable. Beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers may be used to reduce chest pain and pain during exercise (Smith 2006). When blood flow out of the heart is severely blocked, an operation called myotomy-myectomy is done. This procedure cuts and removes the thickened part of the heart. Patients who have this procedure often show significant improvement. If the heart's mitral valve is leaking, surgery may be done to repair or replace the valve. Some people with arrhythmias may need anti-arrhythmic medications. If the arrhythmia is atrial fibrillation, blood thinners will also be used to reduce the risk of blood clots. In some cases, a patient may be given an injection of alcohol into the arteries that feed the thickened part of the heart. This procedure is called alcohol septal ablation. It helps decrease the blockage and helps blood flow out of the heart. An implantable-cardioverter defibrillator or ICD may be needed to prevent sudden death. ICD's are used in high-risk patients. High risks include severe heart muscle thickness, life-threatening heart rhythms, a history of fainting, or a family history of sudden cardiac death. Some people with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may not have symptoms and live a normal life span. Others may get worse gradually or rapidly. The condition may develop into dilated cardiomyopathy in some patients. People with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are at higher risk for sudden death than the normal population. Sudden death can occur at a young age. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a well-known cause of sudden death in athletes. Almost half of deaths in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy happen during or just after the patient has done some type of physical activity. If you have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, you should always follow your doctor's advice concerning exercise and medical appointments. Strenuous exercise should be avoided(Rutten 2006).
There is not much you can do to prevent this condition. If you are diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, as I said earlier your health care provider may recommend that your close blood relatives or family members be screened for the condition. Some patients with mild forms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are only diagnosed by screening echocardiograms because of their known family history. If you have high blood pressure, make sure you take your medication and follow your doctor's recommendations.
Young, competitive athletes are generally perceived as the healthiest segment of our society. But, when it comes to genetic diseases nothing is as it seems. Before playing sports or doing any rigorous activity one should have a physical done. It is also important to take medical history seriously. Whether it is history on your mother or father's side, always take it seriously. The main reason people exercise is to keep their bodies healthy, so by getting a physical you can always know where you stand physically.
In 409 B.C. Pheidippides, a Greek soldier and a conditioned runner ran from Marathon to Athens, a distance of 26 miles, to announce military victory over Persia. After delivering his message he collapsed and died. Pheidippides is the earliest athlete documented to die from sudden cardiac death. Today heart diseases such as, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy , idiopathic left ventricular hypertrophy and congenital coronary artery anomalies, are the most common diseases that lead to sudden death in young athletes. Athletes, such as, professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics Reggie Lewis in 1993, collegiate basketball player from Loyola Marymount, Hank Gathers, and Olympic gold medal skater, Sergi Grinkov, in 1995, have each been victims of these diseases. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the main topic of this paper, is the most common cause of sudden cardiac death in young competitive athletes and the second most common form of heart muscle disease. It is important for athletes and non athletes alike to be informed of this disease and the effects it can have on all physically active people. …show more content…
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a congenital heart disease characterized by the abnormal thickening of the ventricular septum and the left ventricular wall.
Enlargement of the ventricular septum can result in ventricular overflow obstruction (sub-aortic stenosis) and even cardiomyopathy. This means hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a heart disease present from birth which can weaken the heart's pumping by the thickening of the ventricular septum and left ventricular creating a blockage where it is hard for the blood to pass through. It is believed to be a defect in the genes that control heart muscle growth (Sheridian
2006).
As you can see in the picture above, the right image of the heart is enlarged where the left ventricle is. Because hypertrophic cardiomyopathy causes the size of one of the heart chambers to shrink, the heart must work harder to pump blood. The thickening of the heart muscle may completly block the normal flow of blood out of the heart. It may also make it harder for the heart valves to work. Heart valves help control the direction of blood flow. Many people with hypertrophic myopathy have no symptoms. Sometimes the first and only symptom is sudden death. The heart chamber begins to beat so chaotically and fast that no blood is pumped, instead the heart quivers. For the few who do have symptoms, the most common are breathlessness and chest discomfort. Least common symptoms include fainting during physical activity, strong rapid heart beats, and fatigue. All of these symptoms, except fainting, regularly follow any type of rigorous physical activities; many people would ignore these symptoms. Fainting is the only symptom that team physicians, athletic trainers, or anyone training should never ignore. Fainting during physical activities is one of the warning signs of a potentially life threatening heart problem. Heart disease can cause a person to faint for many reasons. First, cardiac rhythm abnormality causes fainting with no warning symptoms. The heart's pumping ability is impaired and causes a decrease in blood flow. Second, an obstruction within the blood vessels in the chest can cause fainting. Third, heart failure can cause the heart's pumping ability to be impaired which then decreases blood flow to the brain (Wickelgren 2006). Besides heart problems, there are many other reasons as to why people faint, environmental factors (hot or crowded settings), emotional factors (stress), physical factors (standing with locked knees for too long), and illness factors (dehydration or low blood sugar). For this reason, a handbook for team physicians states that "an athlete who faints inexplicably during a game or practice should undergo a thorough evaluation before being allowed to compete again (Coach and Director Handbook)."
Primary Care and Sports Medicine Physicians are often asked to screen athletes for rare cardiac diseases that may predispose them to sudden death. Junior High Schools, High Schools, Colleges, and professional teams are all required to take a pre-preparation physical examination (PPE) to play sports. Although young kids are not required to have a PPE done, many doctors and coaches are now encouraging these kids to do so. In these physicals a brief medical history and physical examination is taken. The physical examination consists of a record of your height and weight, a blood pressure reading, vision test, a check of heart, lungs, abdomen, ears, nose, and throat, and an evaluation of posture, joints, strength, and flexibility. But, only some schools, in some states, require that a PPE include an electrocardiogram, or EKG. An EKG measures the electrical activity of a person's heart. Doctors might also use tests such as, Transesophageal echocardiogram, Chest X-Ray, 24 hour Holter monitor or heart monitor, or cardiac catheterization. If you are diagnosed with this, doctors may have your close blood relatives screened as well to rule them out.
The main treatment for this condition is to prevent complications and to control the symptoms. Some patients may need to stay hospitalized until the condition is under control or stable. Beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers may be used to reduce chest pain and pain during exercise (Smith 2006). When blood flow out of the heart is severely blocked, an operation called myotomy-myectomy is done. This procedure cuts and removes the thickened part of the heart. Patients who have this procedure often show significant improvement. If the heart's mitral valve is leaking, surgery may be done to repair or replace the valve. Some people with arrhythmias may need anti-arrhythmic medications. If the arrhythmia is atrial fibrillation, blood thinners will also be used to reduce the risk of blood clots. In some cases, a patient may be given an injection of alcohol into the arteries that feed the thickened part of the heart. This procedure is called alcohol septal ablation. It helps decrease the blockage and helps blood flow out of the heart. An implantable-cardioverter defibrillator or ICD may be needed to prevent sudden death. ICD's are used in high-risk patients. High risks include severe heart muscle thickness, life-threatening heart rhythms, a history of fainting, or a family history of sudden cardiac death. Some people with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may not have symptoms and live a normal life span. Others may get worse gradually or rapidly. The condition may develop into dilated cardiomyopathy in some patients. People with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are at higher risk for sudden death than the normal population. Sudden death can occur at a young age. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a well-known cause of sudden death in athletes. Almost half of deaths in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy happen during or just after the patient has done some type of physical activity. If you have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, you should always follow your doctor's advice concerning exercise and medical appointments. Strenuous exercise should be avoided(Rutten 2006).
There is not much you can do to prevent this condition. If you are diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, as I said earlier your health care provider may recommend that your close blood relatives or family members be screened for the condition. Some patients with mild forms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are only diagnosed by screening echocardiograms because of their known family history. If you have high blood pressure, make sure you take your medication and follow your doctor's recommendations.
Young, competitive athletes are generally perceived as the healthiest segment of our society. But, when it comes to genetic diseases nothing is as it seems. Before playing sports or doing any rigorous activity one should have a physical done. It is also important to take medical history seriously. Whether it is history on your mother or father's side, always take it seriously. The main reason people exercise is to keep their bodies healthy, so by getting a physical you can always know where you stand physically.