Don't Ignore the Signs! Living with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) means staying vigilant about your heart health. If you feel something isn't right, don't settle for "nothing's wrong." Trust your instincts and fight for testing.
HCM can be silent but deadly, so early detection is key. Symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, or fainting should never be brushed off. Your health matters, and advocating for yourself could save your life.
HCM is a very common condition, and may affect as many as 1 in 200 people. However, many do not know that they have the disease and are often undiagnosed or have instead been misdiagnosed with other conditions.
The scariest thing about HCM, and the most sensational, is that HCM can sometimes cause sudden death, and this can occur without obvious symptoms beforehand.
Luckily, recent research has shown that with the right treatment, and thanks to modern medical advances, the scariest and worst scenario is not likely, and that most HCM patients will live normal life spans with few disabilities.
If you're like me and go to a Dr. and they tell you you're fine or "it's Anxiety" which I have PTSD from losing a child to suicide, DON'T LET THEM! We all know our bodies better than anyone and by the time I was diagnosed they told me I was very lucky because I could have died a sudden death way before. Every Dr. I show the amount of heart muscle that was taken out of my left ventricle is amazed. Listen To Your Body!!! (sorry for the graphic but this tells the story)
#hcmawareness #listentoyourheart #advocatefortesting #openheartsurgerysurvivor #hypertrophiccardiomyopathy #fightforyourheath
