After brother's diagnosis, 新泽西 woman unlocks her own

As the cardiologist read through symptoms for her 14-year-old brother's hypertrophic cardiomyopathy diagnosis, Sara Amaya-Revelo突然, 令人震惊的实现.

"My brother had no symptoms, but I had all of them,她说.

肥厚性心肌病, 或HCM, is usually caused by abnormal genes that make the septum, 心脏主泵腔的壁, 变厚变硬, in some cases reducing blood flow into and out of the heart. Symptoms can include fatigue, fainting, shortness of breath, chest pain or heart palpitations. 严重程度各不相同.

For more than a year, Amaya-Revelo got winded going up stairs and had chest pain. 心悸常使她睡不着.

Twice, she went to the hospital to consult with her doctor. But she was told it was likely anxiety or muscle pain. Having experienced a few tough years, she accepted the explanation.

When Amaya-Revelo was pregnant in 2010, she was diagnosed with high blood pressure. But she wasn't prescribed medication to control it until 2013. Shortly after that, while pregnant with her second daughter, she had preeclampsia.

Amaya-Revelo, 谁住在纽瓦克, 新泽西, put her health concerns aside after her daughter was born with serious health issues that required surgery and several hospitalizations. Stress and complications from a medication caused her to gain more than 100 pounds — further straining her heart.

医生发现了Amaya-Revelo的兄弟, 迈克尔Amaya, had HCM from an abnormal electrocardiogram reading during a sports physical — triggering genetic testing for the entire family. 她, her mother and now 11-year-old daughter carry a genetic marker f或HCM, 最常见的遗传性心脏病. 它可以影响任何年龄的人.

“我非常害怕，”Amaya-Revelo说. "I thought it was a death sentence and my life had been cut in half."

People with HCM are at increased risk for atrial fibrillation, 心脏衰竭, 中风和心脏骤停. So teaming with health professionals from multiple disciplines and getting coordinated care are paramount.

When doctors placed an implantable cardioverter defibrillator in Amaya's chest, he felt liberated.

“在除颤器之前, I felt stuck because I couldn't exercise or do any heavy exertion,他说. "It gave me the confidence to work out without being scared."

Amaya-Revelo has faced ups and downs as she works with health care professionals to manage her condition. Interacting with HCM patients as a medical assistant for a cardiology center has helped her feel less alone with her diagnosis and has inspired her. 她 also volunteers with the 肥厚性心肌病协会 to raise awareness.

“我见过80多岁的病人, and that makes me happy to know that I could live that long and be that strong,她说.

的 肥厚性心肌病协会 participates in the 美国心脏协会’s Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy initiative to improve HCM awareness and care.