Cardiomyopathy & HCM

5 December 2025

Cardiomyopathy is a group of conditions that affect the heart muscle. Over time, the heart can become:

Thickened (as in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy)
Stretched and weakened (dilated cardiomyopathy)
Stiff (restrictive cardiomyopathy)

This can lead to symptoms such as breathlessness, chest discomfort, palpitations and, in some cases, heart failure or rhythm problems.

At The New Foscote Hospital in Banbury, our cardiology team offers consultant-led assessment, ECG, echocardiography and advanced cardiac MRI to investigate suspected cardiomyopathy, including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

Symptoms

Many people with cardiomyopathy have mild or no symptoms in the early stages. As the condition progresses, common symptoms include:

Breathlessness, especially on exertion or when lying flat
Chest pain or tightness
Palpitations (a pounding, fast or irregular heartbeat)
Dizziness or light-headedness
Fainting or near-fainting spells
Fatigue and reduced exercise tolerance
Swelling of the ankles, feet, legs or tummy

These symptoms can overlap with other heart and lung conditions, which is why careful assessment and the right tests are so important.

Types Of Cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a genetic form of cardiomyopathy where the heart muscle, usually the left ventricle, becomes abnormally thick. This can

Make it harder for the heart to relax and fill properly
Sometimes obstruct blood flow out of the heart (obstructive HCM)
Increase the risk of arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms)

Symptoms often include breathlessness, chest pain on exertion, palpitations, dizziness or fainting, but some people have no symptoms and are diagnosed through family screening or an incidental test.

Other common cardiomyopathy types

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) – the heart chambers enlarge and pump less efficiently
Restrictive cardiomyopathy – the heart muscle becomes stiff, limiting filling between beats
Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy – particularly affects the right ventricle in some cases and is strongly linked with rhythm problems

Your cardiologist will explain which type you have and what that means for treatment and follow-up.

Who Is At Risk?

Risk factors vary by type but may include:

Family history of cardiomyopathy, HCM or sudden cardiac death
Known gene mutation in a close relative
High blood pressure over many years
Previous heart attack or significant coronary artery disease
Heavy alcohol use or some recreational drugs
Certain chemotherapy drugs or radiotherapy to the chest
Some metabolic and autoimmune conditions

If you have a strong family history of cardiomyopathy or sudden death – especially at a young age – screening may be recommended.

Diagnosis At The New Foscote Hospital

At The New Foscote Hospital, your cardiomyopathy / HCM assessment is consultant-led and may include:

Consultant cardiology review

Detailed history of symptoms, triggers and family history
Physical examination and blood pressure check
Review of any previous test results or hospital letters

Diagnostic tests

Depending on your situation, your cardiologist may recommend:

Electrocardiogram (ECG) – to look at heart rhythm and electrical activity
Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) – to assess chamber size, muscle thickness, pumping function and valve function
Cardiac MRI – high-resolution imaging of the heart’s structure and function, and detailed tissue characterisation (scarring, inflammation and fibrosis). Cardiac MRI is now considered the gold-standard non-invasive test for many forms of cardiomyopathy
24-hour Holter monitor or longer rhythm monitoring – to look for arrhythmias
Blood tests – to check for underlying causes and associated risk factors

If needed, we can arrange CT coronary angiography or refer onwards for invasive procedures via our network of regional cardiac centres.

After your tests, your consultant will explain the findings in clear language and discuss an individualised management plan.

Treatment And Management

Treatment depends on the type and severity of cardiomyopathy, and on whether you have symptoms, heart failure or arrhythmias. Management may include:www.heart.org+1

Lifestyle measures – weight management, exercise advice, limiting alcohol, stopping smoking
Medication
- Beta-blockers or calcium-channel blockers to reduce symptoms in HCM
- ACE inhibitors, ARBs, ARNI or mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists for heart failure
- Diuretics to manage fluid retention
- Anti-arrhythmic drugs or anticoagulants where needed
Procedures / devices (via regional cardiac centres)
- Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) for selected high-risk patients
- Cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) in some forms of heart failure
- Septal reduction therapies (surgical myectomy or alcohol septal ablation) for obstructive HCM in specialist centres

The New Foscote Hospital focuses on diagnosis, optimisation of medical therapy, monitoring and shared care, working closely with tertiary cardiac centres if you need more advanced procedures.

When To Seek Urgent Help

Call 999 or attend A&E immediately if you experience:

New or severe chest pain, especially with breathlessness or sweating
Sudden severe breathlessness at rest or waking you from sleep
Fainting (collapse) or near-collapse
Very rapid, irregular or pounding heartbeat that does not settle

For non-urgent symptoms – such as ongoing breathlessness, palpitations, reduced exercise tolerance or a strong family history of cardiomyopathy or HCM – your GP or existing specialist can refer you to The New Foscote Hospital for further assessment.

Private Cardiomyopathy & HCM Assessment In Banbury

You may benefit from a cardiology review and possible cardiac MRI at The New Foscote Hospital if you:

Have been told you may have cardiomyopathy or HCM
Have abnormal ECG or echocardiogram findings needing clarification
Experience unexplained breathlessness, chest discomfort, palpitations or fainting
Have a close relative with cardiomyopathy, HCM or sudden cardiac death

How to arrange an appointment or scan

Ask your GP or consultant to refer you to The New Foscote Hospital for cardiology assessment and/or cardiac MRI
Insured and self-pay patients are both welcome (we can provide guide prices and support with insurer authorisation)

To find out more or to book:

Call our bookings team on 01295 252281
Or complete the Enquire Online form on our website, selecting Cardiology or MRI / Tests & Scans

Our aim is to provide clear answers, modern imaging and a joined-up plan – from first concern or family history through to diagnosis, risk assessment and long-term follow-up.

Aria Asady-Sabet