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While he may be permanently sidelined, Mobley is fortunate that he found out about the condition before it took its toll.  Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy has cut short the life of several well-known athletes including former Celtic Reggie Lewis and Loyola Marymount star Hank Gathers.  In fact, this disease is the most common cause of sudden cardiac arrest for those under the age of 30, including young professional athletes thought to be in the best of health.   While sudden death only occurs in a small number of patients, it is important to have an understanding of the disease and be aware of risk factors and symptoms.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a complex, but fairly common heart condition that occurs in 1 out of 500 individuals. This disease causes a thickening of the heart muscle, which makes it more difficult for the heart to pump blood, forcing it to work harder. When the heart muscle has thickened, other heart changes may occur as well, including abnormal heart rhythm among others.  Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is probably best known for its sudden death characteristic, occasionally occurring during intense exercise.

The cause of this disease is genetic. The condition can be passed on in families through a defect in a gene.  Children and siblings of those with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy have about a 50 percent chance of inheriting the abnormal gene that causes the disease.  The gene is passed along equally to men and women, although the disease is not always recognized in women.  Inheriting the gene however, does not necessarily means the disease develops. Some people may only be a carrier of the gene.

While there are symptoms associated with this disease, most people live a normal life without ever experiencing symptoms.  It often goes undiagnosed.  Others however, may have symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath during physical activity, dizziness, fainting and/or heart palpitations (pounding of the heart).  Symptoms can occur at any age and may first appear in infants or young children; although it is more likely that symptoms will develop during puberty, when the disease develops. For some, symptoms may be mild at first and worsen as the disease progresses. Symptoms can also vary from day to day.  In a small percentage of those with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, sudden death may be the first symptom.  Fortunately, this is rare.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may be suspected if a heart murmur is heard when a physician listens to the heart. A heart murmur can indicate that the thickened heart muscle is causing abnormal blood flow.  If the disease is suspected, further testing can be done.  An echocardiogram is the most common test used to diagnose the condition. This is a painless procedure using ultrasound to see images of the heart. The test can indicate the thickness of the heart muscle, as well as abnormalities in blood flow and heart valves.

As this is a genetic disease, there is nothing that can be done to prevent it.  Also, there is no cure for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.  Today, a number of treatments are available to help control symptoms and prevent sudden cardiac death.  Treatments can include drug therapy, surgery to remove a portion of the thickened muscle to improve blood flow, or implantation of a pacemaker or defibrillator.

While intense physical activity does not cause sudden death in every athlete with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the medical community recommends that athletes with this condition avoid competitive sports to reduce the risk.  Anyone with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy needs to be aware of the symptoms and risk factors before engaging in physical activity.

It is unfortunate that Cuttino Mobley had to retire under these circumstances, but in doing so, he definitely decreases his risk for sudden death and can now manage this condition.