Signs of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Signs of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in people’s brains are usually only found after the person has already died from it, but researchers at the University of Oxford have found the same signs in living patients through microscopic imaging. This is important because HCM is the biggest cause of cardiac death for young people and there are not that many obvious symptoms. People with it can live their entire lives normally without ever knowing that they have it.

Key Takeaways:

• Some individuals with structural heart defects can only be discovered to have such anomalies after death.

• One such condition is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, an abnormal thickness that is genetic in nature and can lead to sudden death.

• People with this condition generally exhibit no warning signs. A small percentage of sufferers have died, many while engaging in vigorous activity.

“Scientists say a new scan technique could identify people at risk of collapsing and dying suddenly from a hidden heart condition.”

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-48338479