February is Heart Month

Here are some HCM basics that everyone should know: Some HCM statistics About 50% of adults with HCM present with symptoms. You can be diagnosed with HCM at any age. It’s common to be diagnosed during the teenage years, but the average age of diagnosis in the HCMA database is 39 years. https://4hcm.org/hcm-development/  70% of those…

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Gratitude

The HCMA theme for December is Gratitude Why practice gratitude? Gratitude has benefits for both mental and physical health as well as our relationships with those around us. When we’re thankful for anything positive in our lives, it leads to a shift in mindset that helps us feel better and take action to stay as…

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November’s theme: weight management

At the HCMA, November is when we’re thinking about weight management. We all know that winter months and holiday foods can lead to potential weight gain, and it happens to the best of us. It’s easy to gain weight with all the less healthy options in front of us – face it, we all love…

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It’s Emotional Wellness October!

If you’re Newly Diagnosed with HCM or have been living with symptoms for a long time, you may sometimes struggle with the emotional aspects of this condition. The HCMA is here to help you! Here are some of the resources we have available: Twice a month, we offer Emotional Support Discussion Groups via Zoom. These sessions are a great…

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Septal Reduction September

When symptoms of obstruction (such as shortness of breath, exercise intolerance, light-headedness, and fainting) persist despite using medications, or if obstruction severely restricts blood flow from the heart to the body, it’s time to consider septal reduction. What kind of septal reduction therapy is suitable for any patient depends on many factors you can discuss…

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July is about COE Care at the HCMA

What is a Center of Excellence (COE)?  A Center of Excellence is a team of specialists who come together to provide high-quality care to patients with a specific disease using accepted best practices. It is common for medical facilities to seek COE status if they have a team working with a particular disease, such as…

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LIVE-HCM: Lifestyle and Exercise

There is finally more clarity about exercise for HCM patients. Some doctors say, “Don’t do anything physical,” and others say, “Do whatever you want.” We can likely agree on one thing – they’re both wrong, and the best advice is somewhere in the middle. A recent study of the exercise habits of over 1500 HCM…

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HCM Medications 

Sabrina Cuddy May is about medical management here at the HCMA. Medical management means using medications and other non-invasive therapies to treat disease and relieve symptoms. It’s exciting that new treatments for HCM are being studied and that the FDA approved Camzyos last year! It is historic for treatments to be targeted for HCM. HCM…

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Fitness in HCM

Did you resolve to get more active this year? There is a lot of confusion about exercise for HCM patients. Some doctors advise “don’t do anything physical,” while others say, “do whatever you want.” But we can likely agree on one thing – they are both wrong, and the best advice is somewhere in the…

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