Heart Disease Health Center

Many people with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy don't need treatment. Treatment depends on your symptoms and whether you have developed heart failure or abnormal heart rhythms.

• You may take medicines to treat symptoms such as shortness of breath and chest pain.
• An arrhythmia such as atrial fibrillation is treated with medicines to control the heart rate and rhythm and to prevent blood clots. Or you may get cardioversion, an electrical shock to return the heart to its normal rhythm.
• Heart failure is treated with medicines and lifestyle changes, such as eating less salt. Surgery also can be an option.

If your doctor feels you are at high risk for sudden death from an arrhythmia, you may need an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). An ICD is a small device like a pacemaker. It treats dangerous heart rhythms.

What else can you do for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?

Many adults with this disease have full and long lives. You can help yourself by not smoking and by eating low-fat foods and limiting alcohol.

Avoid strenuous activity and intense exercise, because they could lead to sudden death. Talk with your doctor about activity levels that are right for you.

Also talk to your doctor about how often you need checkups.

Frequently Asked Questions