Common Symptoms of ACM
The symptoms of ACM are usually a result of an arrhythmia. An arrhythmia is an abnormal heart rhythm. It can be short or long lasting. Many people don’t know they have an arrhythmia.
There are many different symptoms of an abnormal heart rhythm, and people without ACM can also have these symptoms. Some of these symptoms include racing, skipping, or fluttering sensations (called palpitations) in your chest and throat. Sometimes, if the change in rhythm is so fast that it makes it difficult for the heart to pump blood, lightheadedness and fainting can occur. An abnormal heart rhythm can also cause sudden death if the heart is excessively rapid (ventricular fibrillation) so that it cannot pump enough blood to its own muscle and to the lungs and body. Fortunately, sudden death is not a common complication, but the risk must be considered when deciding on treatment.
Sometimes ACM patients develop symptoms of heart failure. Heart failure means the heart isn’t pumping enough blood to the body and there is a backup of fluid in the body. Symptoms of heart failure include swelling of the legs, feet and abdomen, shortness of breath while lying down and/or exercising, and feelings of extreme fatigue, nausea and dizziness. Symptoms can vary from person to person, even within the same family. Some patients may have few symptoms, while others may require medication and/or medical procedures.
ACM Diagnosis
ACM is often difficult to diagnose and usually requires several different tests. There is NO SINGLE test that can determine whether an individual has ACM. However, the initial evaluation of all patients suspected of having ACM includes a physical exam, a detailed clinical history of arrhythmias or sudden death, and a number of cardiac tests to make a diagnosis.
Some initial non-invasive cardiac tests for ACM include:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Signal-Averaged Electrocardiogram (SAECG)
- Wearing a Holter monitor for 24 hours to detect abnormal heart rhythms
- Echocardiogram of both ventricles
- Exercise stress test
- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (Cardiac MRI) of both ventricles
If these non-invasive tests suggest ACM but the diagnosis is still inconclusive, invasive cardiac testing such as an electrophysiology study, (EP study or test), contrast ventriculography, angiography, and/or a heart biopsy may be needed to confirm the diagnosis of ACM. Your cardiologist will evaluate the need for such tests to make a proper diagnosis.
Who Should Also be tested for ACM?
It is often recommended that all first-degree relatives of a person diagnosed with ACM undergo non-invasive cardiac tests to check for signs of the disease. First-degree relatives are parents, siblings, and children of the individual with ACM.
Genetic testing can also be considered. Second-degree relatives such as grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins don’t need cardiac testing unless they have symptoms.