HCM’s Impact and Salberg’s Story
Salberg launched HCMA after her sister’s sudden death from HCM and her own diagnosis at age 12, followed by a stroke at 21 and a heart transplant nine years ago. She recently spoke in Ohio to raise awareness, noting research advances have boosted diagnosis and treatments like new medications approved in 2022 and emerging gene therapies. “Advances in research have improved diagnosis and treatment options in recent years,” Salberg said, urging those with thickened heart muscle disorders to get tested.
Why Genetic Testing Matters
Genetic testing identifies specific HCM markers, enabling family screenings to catch the inheritable condition early and prevent misdiagnosis with similar disorders like amyloidosis. A positive result allows targeted checks for relatives, potentially sparing them invasive clinical tests like echocardiograms if negative, though routine screenings remain advised regardless. Salberg emphasizes this approach amid Ohio Department of Health data showing heart disease’s dominance as a killer.
Call to Action for Ohioans
During Heart Health Awareness Month, Salberg encourages discussing family history with doctors: “You should go ahead and get a genetic test to see if you can find an identified marker. If you can, that information can be used to identify other people in your family.” HCMA advocates for policies like the Healthy Cardiac Monitoring Act to integrate such screenings into routine care, a step that recently helped diagnose a young patient and his father. Ohio residents can visit 4hcm.org for resources.