Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

The complete, up-to-date patient guide to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy - written by a cardiologist, for the people actually living with it.

This is the book patients ask for after they leave the cardiologist's office overwhelmed, holding a diagnosis they didn't fully understand and a dozen questions they didn't get to ask. Written entirely in question-and-answer form by a board-certified cardiologist, this guide answers the real questions patients and families actually have - clearly, honestly, and without the jargon.

Grounded in the latest evidence.

Fully updated to reflect the 2024 AHA/ACC Guideline for the Management of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, the 2023 ESC Guidelines, and current FDA drug labeling - including the newest cardiac myosin inhibitors, mavacamten (Camzyos) and aficamten (Myqorzo).

Inside, you'll find 138 patient questions answered, including:

• What HCM actually is - and why a strong heartbeat can still mean real symptoms
• Genetic testing, family screening, and what a "negative" result really means
• Medications, procedures, and defibrillators - explained without fear
• Exercise, diet, travel, sex, and pregnancy: what's actually off-limits (less than you think)
• The newest treatments, their real costs, and how to navigate insurance and financial assistance
• Emergency warning signs every family member should know
• Caregiver guidance, honest patient stories, and a documented patient-safety case
• Practical trackers, appointment checklists, and a plain-language glossary

"Like sitting beside your cardiologist, with time for every question."

Written for patients, not textbooks.

Every answer begins with a direct, plain-English response - then gives you exactly enough detail to act on it. No chapter you have to fight through. No fear-mongering. No absolutes where the evidence doesn't support them. Just honest answers from a cardiologist who has had this conversation many times before.

Whether you were diagnosed yesterday or have lived with HCM for twenty years, this book is designed to sit on your nightstand and answer the question you have tonight - not just the ones a textbook thinks you should ask.

This book is for general education and does not replace personalized medical advice from your own healthcare team.