Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy "HCM"

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a condition of excessive heart muscle growth. HCM affects about 1 in 1000 people. It is often silent, and those who have it are usually unaware of it. For those who have HCM, signs of the condition often begins in their teenage years. Heart muscle that has grown excessively can begin to block blood flow in the heart. The situation can be made worse by vigorous exercise (such as competitive athletics), which can cause dire consequences - including sudden death. For some, cardiac arrest may be the first sign that they have HCM.

Over the years, many young lives have been lost to HCM. Some may remember Hank Gathers - who died during NCAA basketball playoffs in 1990 due to HCM. There are many similar stories. About once a month, an athlete dies due to undetected HCM somewhere in the US.