HCM Diagnosis & Treatment in Miami
If you've been diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) or suspect it runs in your family, the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Program at UHealth can help you get treatment to keep your heart healthy and even maintain a very active life.
No two people with HCM are the same –– with different heart shapes, symptoms and outcomes. That's why we tailor treatment for every individual with HCM. Whatever your needs and goals, we'll find the right treatment to help you return to the activities that matter to you.
Our HCM program in South Florida brings together national leaders with deep experience in treating HCM through specialty heart care, advanced imaging, rhythm care, research and genetic counseling to help you feel better, stay safe and protect your family.
What is HCM?
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common inherited heart disease, affecting one in 500 people in the United States. Having HCM means your heart muscle becomes abnormally thick, making it harder to pump blood throughout your body.
Because it's genetic, people can be diagnosed at any age — including childhood and later adulthood. People with HCM have a 50% chance of passing the condition on to their children.
Doctors use cardiovascular imaging to diagnose HCM, but many people living with the condition aren't aware. HCM is underdiagnosed and can be mistaken for asthma or anxiety.
Getting diagnosed and treated for HCM can help you and your family stay healthy and active.
Diagnosing HCM
Getting the right diagnosis is the first step to determining the best treatment for you. If you already have test results, bring those to your visit.
Besides a physical exam and discussion of your symptoms, your comprehensive evaluation may include:
- Echocardiogram (echo): An ultrasound of the heart that's often the first diagnostic test for HCM
- Cardiac MRI: A non-invasive test that captures pictures of your heart and blood vessels
- Heart rhythm monitoring: A test that looks for arrhythmias, including AFib
- Exercise testing: Helps your team personalize activity guidance and evaluate how your heart responds
- Genetic counseling: A genetic screening blood test helps clarify inherited risk and guide family screening
Understanding Your Diagnosis: Obstructive vs. Nonobstructive HCM
Knowing whether you have obstructive or nonobstructive HCM is the first step in building a personalized care plan. When the heart muscle thickens, it can narrow the pathway that blood uses to exit the left ventricle and travel into the aorta, the body's main artery. Whether narrowing occurs and how severe it is plays a major role in symptoms, risk and treatment.
Obstructive HCM
About two-thirds of patients have obstructive HCM, meaning the thickened heart muscle partially blocks blood flow out of the heart. Blood has to push through a narrowed opening, making the heart work harder, which can worsen symptoms over time.
Obstruction can cause:
- Shortness of breath, especially with activity
- Chest discomfort
- Dizziness or fainting
- Fatigue and exercise intolerance
Nonobstructive HCM
About one-third of patients have nonobstructive HCM, meaning there's no significant blockage of blood flow.
Still, patients can experience:
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Arrhythmias
- Progressive heart failure symptoms in some cases
Treatment strategies often focus on symptom control, as well as monitoring heart rhythm and long-term heart function. A small percentage of patients with more advanced disease may eventually require advanced heart failure therapies.
HCM Symptoms & Warning Signs You Shouldn't Ignore
HCM is often inherited, and it doesn't look the same in every person. Some people feel fine for years. Others develop debilitating symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest discomfort, fatigue or fainting. A small subset can be at higher risk for serious rhythm problems, including sudden cardiac death.
If you have any of the following symptoms, ask your doctor about an evaluation for HCM. This is especially true if they're unexplained or dismissed as anxiety.
- Shortness of breath, especially during physical activity
- Chest pain or pressure, which is often mistaken for anxiety or asthma
- Heart palpitations that feel like rapid or fluttering heartbeats
- Fainting (syncope), particularly during or immediately after exercise
- Fatigue that doesn't improve with rest
- Swelling in the legs, feet or neck veins
Personalized Treatment Options for HCM
Treatment depends on your symptoms, your heart's structure, your rhythm risk and whether your HCM is obstructive or nonobstructive. The following are some options:
Therapeutic Medication
Traditional HCM management may include beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, heart rhythm medicines and blood thinners when appropriate.
Heart Procedures and Devices
Some patients may benefit from:
- Septal myectomy: Surgery to remove or shrink thickened heart tissue and improve blood flow
- Alcohol septal ablation: A heart procedure performed with a catheter for those who are considered too high-risk to have surgery
- ICD Implantation: For patients at high risk of arrhythmia, an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator acts as a safety net
Newer Targeted Therapies
As researchers gain a better understanding of the molecular basis of the disease, more targeted treatment options are available. A newer class of medications called myosin inhibitors is changing how doctors treat certain patients with obstructive HCM.
Advanced Heart Failure Care When Needed
For end-stage heart failure, when other treatments no longer work, a heart transplant may be an option for some patients.
What's the Outlook for People with HCM?
Treatment options for HCM have expanded significantly in recent years. In addition to traditional medications, newer targeted therapies for obstructive HCM can help reduce obstruction and improve symptoms. Some patients may also benefit from procedures or surgery designed to relieve the blockage and restore smoother blood flow.
With treatment, many people with HCM experience improved quality of life and a better exercise capacity, often without a reduction in life expectancy.
Medically reviewed by Omar Wever-Pinzon, M.D., 2026
Meet Our HCM Experts
Frequently Asked Questions About HCM
Why Choose UHealth for HCM Care in Miami
HCM care is highly specialized. Our program is designed to deliver coordinated, expert care for patients across Miami and South Florida, with a focus on three goals.
Helping You Feel Better
Many people with HCM seek care because symptoms are limiting daily life. Together, we create an individualized treatment plan to help alleviate symptom burden and help you reach your daily activity goals.
Keeping You Safe
A subset of people with HCM are at higher risk for dangerous arrhythmias. Identifying risk is a critical part of HCM care, which may include electrophysiological evaluation and, for some patients, an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD).
Care for the Whole Family
Because HCM can be inherited, our program supports genetic counseling and testing — not just for you, but for any relatives who may need screening. Our expert genetic counselors work closely with you to help you decide if genetic screening is the right choice for your family.
Care Informed by the Latest Research and Clinical Trials
Our faculty are clinician-scientists and educators, which means they're at the forefront of HCM research to improve treatment and outcomes. At UHealth, you'll have access to the latest innovations, procedures, technology and even clinical trials to treat HCM.
Questions? We're here to help.
Our appointment specialists are ready to help you find what you need. Contact us today.