Mother talks her journey with often-undiagnosed cardiovascular disease
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States. A mother who has a type of cardiovascular disease that often goes undiagnosed shared her journey with 8 News Now.
In her 20s, Stephanie, who did not want her last name used, was told she had a heart murmur. At the time, the marathon runner and mom did not have any symptoms. However, in her 30s and 40s, Stephanie started suffering from them on a daily basis.
“I couldn’t climb a flight of stairs without having to stop and take a breath at the top because it was getting more and more difficult,” Stephanie explained.
In 2022, she was diagnosed with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (OHCM).
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a type of heart disease that can affect the function of your heart by causing the heart muscle wall to thicken and stiffen, making it harder for the heart to fill with blood.
When HCM causes the heart muscle to get so thick that it blocks or reduces blood flow from the rest of the body, it is called OHCM. About two-thirds of HCM cases are obstructive.
Despite being the most commonly inherited heart disease, the majority of patients, or up to 85%, are undiagnosed. Common symptoms include shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, chest pain, fainting, and fatigue.
Stephanie sought treatment with Dr. William Crowder.
Dr. Crowder said it’s difficult to diagnose because there are many reasons why a patient could experience those symptoms, and have worsening exercise fatigue. He said patients know their bodies and limitations: when they feel changes, their symptoms need to be taken seriously.
Stephanie’s treatment included a medicine called Camzyos that reduced the strain on her heart. Now, she said she’s “back in the game” and has returned to her normal everyday activities, like walking, hiking, and yoga.
If you’re interested in learning more about that particular medicine that helped Stephanie, visit the Camzyos website.
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