Athlete's Heart Vs. HCM
Quite often, HCM can be mistaken for a condition known as athlete’s heart. Both involve growth of the myocardium, however the latter generally is not correlated with incidences of SCD. While HCM can be linked to family history, athlete’s heart arises purely as a function of intense exercise (usually at least an hour a day, everyday. Since the body is operating at high training levels, the heart adapts and grows in order to pump blood more efficiently. Stoppage of exercise for three months generally leads to a decrease in wall/septum thickness in those with athlete’s heart, whereas those with HCM exhibit no decline.
People with athlete’s heart do not exhibit an abnormally enlarged septum, and the growth of heart muscle at the septum and free ventricular wall is symmetrical. The asymmetrical growth seen in HCM results in a less-dilated left ventricle. This in turn leads to a smaller volume of blood leaving the heart with each beat.
| Athlete's Heart | HCM | |
|---|---|---|
| Septum thickness | <15 mm | >15 mm |
| Symmetry | Yes (for septum and LV wall) | No (septum much thicker |
| Family history | None | Possibly |
| Deconditioning | Reduction within 3 months | None |
Read more about this topic: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Screening
Famous quotes containing the words athlete and/or heart:
“Developing the muscles of the soul demands no competitive spirit, no killer instinct, although it may erect pain barriers that the spiritual athlete must crash through.”
—Germaine Greer (b. 1939)
“The heart beats thick,
Big trout muscle out of the dead cold;”
—Ted Hughes (b. 1930)