Sudden death may result from irregular heartbeats. A doctor can usually identify hypertrophic cardiomyopathy by physical examination. For instance, the heart sounds heard through a stethoscope are usually characteristic. Cardiac catheterization to measure pressures within the heart may be necessary if surgery is being considered. About 4 percent of people with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy die each year.
Death is usually sudden.
Death from chronic heart failure is less common. People who learn that they've inherited this disorder may wish to obtain genetic counseling when planning a family. Treatment is aimed primarily at reducing the heart's resistance to filling with blood between heartbeats. Taken alone or together, beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers are the main treatment. Surgery to remove some heart muscle improves the outflow of blood from the heart, but it's performed only on people whose symptoms are incapacitating despite drug therapy.