Heart Health
What is cardiomyopathy?
Ask the doctor
Q.A friend was just diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. What causes this problem, and what is the prognosis?One of the most common forms, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, is an abnormal thickening of the heart wall. The heart cannot fill completely, leaving less blood to pump out to the body. Although the condition can go unnoticed, it may cause a heart murmur that a doctor can detect with a stethoscope. The damaged heart cells may also disrupt the heart's electrical signals, leading to heart rhythm problems such as palpitations. In extreme cases, people with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy experience sudden cardiac arrest during vigorous physical activity; in fact, it's the most common cause of sudden death in athletes.
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