Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a cardiovascular condition many people in Maryland are living with but to the public, it is relatively unknown.

During American Heart Month, advocates are calling attention to the genetic disorder which causes the heart walls to thicken, making it harder for the heart to pump blood. It is estimated one in 200 to one in 500 people suffer from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, according to the Heart Failure Society of America.

Lisa Salberg, founder and CEO of the nonprofit Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association, said a lot of small issues could be signs of the condition and many symptoms can be easily dismissed.

"They might think they have athletically induced asthma. They might have been told they just have an innocent heart murmur. They might just think they’re short of breath because they’re getting older or that palpitation was a little too much caffeine," Salberg outlined. "We want to encourage people to look back at their family tree and see if there are any cardiac diagnoses or even symptoms."

Symptoms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy include fatigue, shortness of breath during physical activity, irregular heart rates or rhythms, among others. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is usually passed down in families, so it’s important to check for the condition either through genetic testing or an echocardiogram, which uses sound waves to make a picture of the heart.

Salberg added getting into family histories and the specifics of heart issues can help people better understand their medical issues and move forward with treatment plans.

"We do this in cancer all the time. If you have a history of breast cancer, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, stomach cancer, whatever the cancer, we say, 'Family history? Cancer. What kind?'" Salberg pointed out. "We don’t say, 'Family history? Heart disease. What kind?' And we need to start doing that, and that’s going to help people go to their doctor and make good decisions."

For Salberg, the issue is personal. Her sister died from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and Salberg herself was diagnosed at the age of 12. Now, she is celebrating nine years since her heart transplant.