What types of heart disease may be caused by inherited traits?
The most common inherited cardiovascular diseases are: • Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) involves an unexplained muscle thickening in the ventricles (the heart’s pumping chambers). It is the most common inherited cardiovascular disorder, affecting one in every thousand people. Many people with HCM show no symptoms; when present, however, symptoms may include shortness of breath, tiredness, chest pain, fainting or near-fainting, and/or heart palpitations. Learn more about HCM. • Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM): In DCM, the heart is enlarged, grows weaker, and is less able to pump blood throughout the body. When the heart does not pump properly individuals develop symptoms of heart failure, including shortness of breath, swelling of the ankles and feet, and fatigue. In addition, abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) may develop. Learn more about DCM. • Inherited Arrhythmias are abnormal heart beats or rhythms caused by gene mutations. Inherited arrhythmias affect the electrical signaling o
