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Question:
What can you tell me about hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
My mother, who is 63 years old, was just diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. My mother's doctor told her that I should see a doctor and get it checked out since it's genetic. I took her advice and went to a cardiologist, saying I have no heart murmur and that my mother was misdiagnosed. My mother lives in Colorado, I live in Missouri. My mother has never had a history of a heart murmur and it's just showed up, and after tests, she does indeed have it. Do I follow my mother's doctor's advice, or by the doctor I visited? It's my understanding that this condition can turn up at any point, is that correct? I am horribly confused with this and any guidance you can provide would be very helpful.
submitted by Alan from Missouri on 6/5/2014
Answer:
by Texas Heart Institute cardiologist, James T. Willerson, MD
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy can become clinically apparent at any age. It is often acquired genetically. It is important that all direct family members have a 2D transthoracic echocardiogram done and interpreted by a well trained cardiologist. If the individual has the problem, the well trained cardiologist can identify and initiate the proper treatment. If you need our help at the Texas Heart Institute, we will be glad to help you and your family.
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Updated June 2014
