Approximately 1 in 500 people are affected by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, it is important that patients understand the dynamics of the disease as it could be potentially life-threatening. In most cases, patients' quality of life is not affected, but some experience symptoms that cause significant discomfort or undetected complications that could lead to sudden cardiac death. With this in mind, it would be helpful to recognize what it is, the specific causes, stages of diagnosis, and options for treatment. What is it? Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is an inherited disease that affects the cardiac muscle of the heart, causing the walls of the heart to thicken and become stiff. [1] At the cellular level, the sarcomere increases in size. As a result, the heart muscles become excessively thick, making it difficult for the cells to contract and the heart to pump. A genetic mutation causes myocytes to form chaotic intersecting bundles. A pathognomonic anomaly called myocardial fiber disorder. [2,12] The distribution of hypertrophy in the heart is varied. However, in most cases, the left ventricle is always affected. [3] The heart muscle can thicken in four different ways. The most common is asymmetric septal hypertrophy without obstruction. Here the intraventricular septum becomes thick, but the mitral valve is not affected. Asymmetric septal hypertrophy with obstruction causes the mitral valve to touch the septal wall during contraction. (Obstruction of the outflow tract of the left ventricle.) Obstruction of the mitral valve allows blood to flow slowly from the left ventricle into the left atrium (mitral regurgitation). Symmetrical hypertrophy is the thickening of the entire left vein......center of paper......Medical Association[9] "Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy". American Heart Association. ©2014 American Heart Association, Inc., nd Web. March 27, 2014.[11] Nishimura, Rick A., Ommen, Steve R., Tajik, A.J., (2003) Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Patient Perspective. Dallas, TX: American Heart Association,[12] Ho, Carolyn Y, MD; López, Begoña, PhD; Coelho-Filho, Otavio R, MD; Lakdawala, Neal K, MD; Cirino, Allison L, MS, CGC; Jarolim, Petr, MD, PhD; Kwong, Raymond, MD; González, Arantxa, PhD; Colan, Steven D, MD; Seidman, J.G., Ph.D.; Diez, Javier, MD, PhD; Seidman, Christine E, MD. (2010) Myocardial Fibrosis as an Early Manifestation of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, Boston, MA: Massachusetts Medical Society[13] “Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.” The Cleveland Clinic Foundation for Continuing Education. © 2000-2014 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, January 2009. Web. March 27. 2014.