Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
The most common inherited heart defect, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a thickening of the heart muscle that can stiffen the walls of the heart and impair the operation of heart valves, which may impede normal blood flow. In the United States, half a million people have this disease, yet most of them don't know it.
While there are some symptoms associated with HCM (such as chest pain, fatigue and fainting), many people have no symptoms at all. In rare cases, it can lead to sudden death. Six percent of HCM patients will experience sudden cardiac death. Long-term outcomes of children with HCM show that 9% progress to heart failure and 12% to sudden cardiac death.
The basketball player Hank Gathers, who was diagnosed with HCM, died while playing a game in 1990. Colin O’Kane, standout lacrosse player and youth coach from San Jose, died suddenly in 2016 at the age of 25 from undiagnosed HCM. Among 1,866 sudden deaths in athletes between 1980 and 2006, HCM was the most common cause of cardiovascular sudden death.
HCM can be hereditary but can also be acquired as a part of aging or high blood pressure. In some instances, the cause is unknown.
HCM is diagnosed based on medical history, a simple physical exam, and echocardiogram results. Additional tests may include blood tests, electrocardiogram, chest X-ray, exercise stress test, cardiac catheterization, CT scan, and MRI.
The Colin O’Kane Memorial Scholarship Fund is intended, in part, to raise money for awareness of and research into HCM. Simple screening can save lives! For more information and to donate, please visit our Donation page.