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Coping and support
By Mayo Clinic staffBeing diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can cause a range of difficult emotions and fears. Like many people with this condition, you're likely to struggle with feelings of grief, fear and anger. These are appropriate responses to the serious changes that come with your diagnosis, including exercise restrictions, a lifelong reliance on medications, fear of death and fear of passing the condition on to your children.
Talk with your doctor if you are feeling hopeless, panicked or unable to cope. It may help to talk with a therapist. In some cases, your doctor also may recommend medications that treat mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.
In other cases, your mental health may benefit most from talking with medical experts, such as your medical care team or a genetic counselor, who can help you understand your risks and find effective ways of coping.
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. American Heart Association. http://www.heart.org/idc/groups/heart-public/@wcm/@hcm/documents/downloadable/ucm_312225.pdf. Accessed Dec. 7, 2010.
- Elliot PM. Clinical manifestations of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 7, 2010.
- Gemignani AS, et al. Cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2011: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..00012-3--sc23005&isbn=978-0-323-05610-6&type=bookPage§ionEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..00012-3--sc23005&uniqId=228752326-3. Accessed Dec. 7, 2010.
- Maron BJ. The 2009 International Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Summit. The American Journal of Cardiology. 2010;105:1164.
- Elliot PM. Diagnosis and evaluation of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 7, 2010.
- Maron BJ. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Circulation. 2002; 106:2419.
- Grogan M (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 12, 2010.
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