Prioritize Emotional Health When You Have Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Health ConditionsCardiovascular Diseases

Prioritize Emotional Health When You Have Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Prioritize Emotional Health When You Have Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
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Published on February 13, 2026
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The physical symptoms of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are very real, ranging from chest pain and shortness of breath to a racing heart, lightheadedness, and fatigue.

 But there’s also an emotional component that can take a toll.
Fear, isolation, and sadness are valid feelings, says Milind Desai, MD, director of the Center for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and medical director of the Center for Aortic Diseases at Cleveland Clinic. In fact, research shows that being diagnosed with HCM significantly increases the risk of mental health disorders.

To grasp the importance of addressing the emotional side of obstructive HCM, it helps to understand how the disease can affect mood and implement strategies to protect your mental health and live mindfully every day.

The Emotional Impact of Obstructive HCM

The emotional distress associated with obstructive HCM may include feelings of fear and frustration, as well as anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. These emotions can actually worsen the physical symptoms of the condition, which makes managing your well-being that much more vital. Depression, which can affect people with obstructive HCM, may be associated with a higher risk of heart failure and other cardiac events.

But even if you have obstructive HCM, “You don’t have to live your life in a bubble,” says Dr. Desai. Many resources are available to help you manage these emotions and improve your quality of life.

Practical Coping Strategies to Try

To address the mental health aspects of obstructive HCM, talk with your healthcare provider about simple ways to ease stress, relax more, and make your well-being a priority. Try some of these strategies that may help:

  • Meditate This mind-body exercise is a way to lower stress by clearing your mind and focusing on a feeling, image, or personal dedication. Meditation may help minimize negative emotions, lower your heart rate and blood pressure, and improve sleep.
  • Use Breathing Techniques Relaxation techniques that involve intentional breathing are another way to quiet the mind, enjoy inner peace, and banish negativity.
  • Journal Similar to tracking physical symptoms, keep a journal where you write down the emotionally difficult moments you experience during the day, and then share this with your doctor. Having written evidence can also help you pinpoint when you feel sad or scared, so you can work to avoid the situation or focus on a coping strategy that can help.
  • Talk It Out Your doctor may refer you to a therapist, so you have someone to speak with regularly. Desai also recommends joining a support group of others living with obstructive HCM, who may have the same concerns and feelings. It can be comforting to be part of a community that understands.

How to Integrate Emotional Health Into Daily Life With Obstructive HCM

When you have obstructive HCM, paying attention to your emotional health and finding small, practical ways to support it can make daily life feel more manageable and balanced. Here’s how:

  • Lean on your tribe. Because obstructive HCM has a genetic component, “There are often multiple family members who are affected, so addressing and tackling this genetic disease together can have significant benefits,” says Desai. Joining a support group or having family therapy sessions can be an excellent way to address related mental health issues.
  • Let friends step in. There’s a fine line between maintaining your independence and accepting help when you need it. Remember that it’s okay to ask for a hand lifting or moving something — or to take a break while others move ahead.

  • Consider raising awareness. A chronic heart condition, such as obstructive HCM, may feel like a downer at times, but joining an awareness campaign or fundraiser can help lift your spirits. “Getting involved in advocacy can give a sense of fulfillment, as you are doing something for the community, as well as for other members of your family,” says Desai.
  • Focus on the positive. As much as you can, celebrate the small victories you’ve achieved, such as errands you’ve completed or a closet you’ve cleaned and organized. Highlighting the progress you make can boost your mood and perhaps reduce feelings of frustration and worry.

The Takeaway

  • Sadness, frustration, and fear are normal, strong emotions, but they may worsen physical symptoms of obstructive HCM, which is why addressing mental health is critical to your care.
  • Coping strategies such as doing breath work, joining a support group, journaling, or meditating can boost your mood and ease stress.
  • Allowing loved ones to help, celebrating small wins along the way, and spreading awareness about obstructive HCM may help improve your overall well-being.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Symptoms. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association.
  2. Park JB et al. Risk of Incident Mental Disorders in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Nationwide Propensity-Matched Study. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. January 2023.
  3. The Impact of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy on You and Your Family Members. Mayo Clinic. April 22, 2025.
  4. Lifestyle Guidelines for Patients With HCM. Columbia University Department of Medicine.
  5. Meditation: A Simple, Fast Way to Reduce Stress. Mayo Clinic. December 14, 2023.
  6. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Diagnosis & Treatment. Mayo Clinic. February 23, 2024.
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Chung Yoon, MD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor
Chung Yoon, MD, is a noninvasive cardiologist with a passion for diagnosis, prevention, intervention, and treatment of a wide range of heart and cardiovascular disorders. He enjoys clinical decision-making and providing patient care in both hospital and outpatient settings. He excels at analytical and decision-making skills and building connection and trust with patients and their families.
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Jennifer Kelly Geddes

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Jennifer Kelly Geddes is a New York City-based freelance writer and editor, who covers health, wellness, pregnancy, and parenting. She has held positions at Food & Wine, Parenting, Seventeen, and Airbnb magazines and was a research editor at Parenting for more than a decade. Jennifer has also worked as a research editor for Kiwi, Scholastic Parent & Child, Dr. Oz: The Good Life, Modern Farmer, CR Fashion Book, V, VMan, Parents, and National Geographic Kids. She has created custom content for dozens of websites, including Care, SafeBee, Fisher-Price, Mastercard, the National Sleep Foundation, Realtor, Working Mother, Grandparents, Time Out New York KIDS, Good Housekeeping, and Chewy. She holds a BA from Mount Holyoke College and an MA from Columbia University. And she is the mom of two teen girls and a rescue pup named Django. An avid tennis player, cross-country skier, and yoga enthusiast, she divides her time between West Harlem in Manhattan and Ghent, New York.

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