HCM news
George Dooley Memorial
It’s been 24 years – and we will never forget. Twenty-four years without my brother, George, who was also a son, husband, father, teacher, coach and so much more than the roles he played. George died at the young age of 41 from Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), leaving behind a wife, 2 small children, and family…
Read MoreMedtronic ICD Recall
What is the recall: The FDA has issued a Class 1 recall of Medtronic ICDs and CRT-Ds, manufactured after 2017, with a glassed feedthrough. Who does it affect: This recall affects only the following Medtronic ICDs: Cobalt™ XT/Cobalt™/Crome™ ICDs and CRT-Ds, a subset of: Claria MRI™/Amplia MRI™/Compia MRI™/Viva™/Brava™ CRT-Ds, a subset of: Visia AF™/Visia AF MRI™/Evera™/Evera MRI™/Primo MRI™/Mirro MRI™…
Read MorePhillips AED Pad Recall
What is the recall: Philips is notifying customers of a potential issue with the Adult SMART Pads Cartridge (M5071A) and the Infant/Child SMART Pads Cartridge (M5072A) for use specifically with the HeartStart HS1/OnSite/Home AEDs. Which AED pads does it affect: This recall affects only the Philips Adult SMART Pads Cartridge [REF: M5071A] and the Infant/Child SMART…
Read MoreLifestyle and Exercise in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (LIVE-HCM) Results Released
Vigorous Exercise in Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy – JAMA Cardiology | Original Investigation Exercise has well-established physical and mental health benefits and is an integral part of life for millions of people worldwide. However, for individuals with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), the possibility that physical activity may heighten the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) has…
Read MoreProblems with generic metoprolol
Many HCM patients have issues with metoprolol, the beta-blocker most widely prescribed for HCM. There may be multiple reasons for this, but a key one has been known for some time: many generic formulations of metoprolol succinate have time-release mechanisms that do not work in a similar fashion to the brand-name Toprol XL.
Read MoreHCM and Mental Health
Learning that you have a serious chronic disease can be stressful. Now a group of researchers in Korea provide evidence (Park et al. 2022) that mental health problems can be an important consequence of diagnosis with HCM. Methods The research team was led by Hyung-Kwan Kim of Seoul National University. These scientists compared the risk…
Read MoreMavacamten Affects Diastolic Dysfunction
Background HCM patients commonly suffer from diastolic dysfunction (also called heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), or left-sided heart failure): their hearts do not fill adequately. As a result, even after septal reduction therapy (SRT: myectomy or alcohol septal ablation), some patients are quite symptomatic. Can mavacamten (Camzyos) help relieve their symptoms? Now a…
Read MoreExpert consensus on syncope in HCM
Syncope (fainting) is common among HCM patients, but its causes are frequently unknown. An expert panel has published guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of syncope in HCM.
Read MoreSeptal Myectomy Today
What’s the status of septal myectomy today? A recent review paper by an Expert Panel for the American Journal of Cardiology (Maron et al. 2022) concludes that “Surgical myectomy remains the time-honored primary treatment for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients with drug refractory limiting symptoms due to LV outflow obstruction.” One of the safest of heart procedures…
Read MoreCan HCM Patients Use Alcohol, Chocolate, & Coffee?
We hear many different claims about what HCM patients (or heart patients in general) should or shouldn’t eat and drink. This is a big topic, and for much of it, the science doesn’t have simple answers – at least not yet. But it turns out that there are some answers for three things that many people like (and many people won’t touch): wine, chocolate, and coffee.
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