Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the thickening of the muscles that make up the heart. The thickening may interfere with the normal functioning of the heart by:Narrowing the outflow of the ventricleReducing the ability of the heart to relax and fill with blood during the relaxation phaseImpairing the ability of the valves of the heart to function properlyAny situation that increases the rate or force of contraction of the heart muscle can worsen these symptoms.

Review Date: 12/20/2010
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief; Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital.