What Type of Weather is Bad for HCM

[bmerritt]

I am graduating law school at the end of this summer and I recently got diagnosed with HCM. I was wondering what type of weather is bad for HCM so I can kind of use that information as I am choosing a place to live. I have found in the past humid for me is bad. Just wanted to know what everyone else thinks.

[Cynaburst]

I personally think that if you can avoid extremes of any kind you are better off. Extreme heat and humidity make me feel awful. I also am not a big fan of extreme cold. I guess that is why I live here in Southern Cal. where the weather is pretty much perfect all of the time.

I have had some of my worst HCM episodes in New Orleans where I grew up when I have gone back to visit. I have had many near fainting episodes there due to weather.

On the other hand, you will learn to adapt to the weather wherever you are. IF you are in a hot place, you will stay in the A/C. If you are in a cold place, you stay inside. So, I wouldn't worry about it too much. You are going to be spending most of your time inside an office sitting at a computer!

Welcome to the law as a career. Are you sure you don't want to reconsider and do something else with your life??? :) Having practiced law for 18 years, I am always inclined to recommend that people find anything else to do with their lives...

Congratulations anyway....Best of luck to you in your future endeavors.

[Largehearted]

Ditto to Cynthia. Extremes do me in! High humidity is also a downer for me.

Leon

[Sarah]

Temperate climates without any extremes are best. I'm thinking of northern California for myself. You can search for cities that match your parameters on these sites (homefair also has moving calculators):

www.findyourspot.com
http://www.bestplaces.net/fybp/
www.homefair.com

[THW]

Ditto to Leon. Humidity really does me in.
Theresa

[mtlieb]

Any extreme in climate can be uncomfortable for us HCM'ers... extreme cold, extreme heat, extreme humidity... they can all be pretty rough on us. If you actually have the choice, something at the lower end of the mid-latitudes would probably be most comfortable, but seldom in life are we afforded the opportunity to make such choices. Perhaps the most practical choice is simply to live where you want to, and adapt your lifestyle to fit that.

[rgong]

bmerritt,

Speaking of climate, how were those E. Lansing winters :) (Rhetorical question from a native Michigander)

I know you specifically posted a question about weather and HCM, but as long as we're also on the topic of where to live... you may want to consider proximity to an HCM "center of excellence" (listed elsewhere on the 4hcm.org site) as a factor in your decision. I'm making way more assumptions than I should be based on your short post, but something led to your recent diagnosis of HCM, either directly based on a symptom or indirectly when a doc was looking at something else. I'm guessing the former as you mentioned you notice a difference in how you feel when the weather is humid. Since you now know you have HCM, you'll need to pay attention to it and monitor it regularly for the rest of your life. Not that it's an absolute requirement to live near an HCM center of excellence -- there are certainly good and competent HCM-aware cardiologists almost everywhere -- but as long as you're weighing various factors in choosing a place to live, it can't hurt to be aware of where the various centers of excellence are located around the country, and to throw that into the mix. (There's one in, ahem, the town where the OTHER Big Ten school in Michigan is located should you decide to stay in Michigan.)

Just a thought, since proximity to competent HCM care has made a huge difference in my treatment thus far.

Best wishes,
Rich

[Pam Alexson]

bmerrit me too... center of excellence care has made a HUGE difference in how I live w/ HCM. The care you get now just may make the biggest difference in how it all plays out for you.
As Jim says, adjusting and adapting are very important. Maybe for fun, we should have a contest on who can come up w/ the best places to live w/ HCM.

I know I am very effected to climactic changes and feel best when the spring air and temperature is moderate and drier and the fall air is crisp and clean and dry. All the rest of extremes are just a big challenge on a daily basis.

Pam

[bmerritt]

Thank you everybody for the suggestions, I use to live in Memphis and it would kill be being out doors, after a few feet my chest would hurt and I would get short of breath. I was in Australia and New Zealand last term and since I had free health care I decided to get my chest and shortness of breathe checked out. A couple years before during a physical I was told that I had a heart murrmur but I really thought I was just having some breathing problems. Any way, I had it checked out and after a night at the hospital and a day of test I was told I have HCM. At any point since I dont have health insurance until I can get a job after I pass the bar, I just wanted some suggestions on some places that would not be harsh on the HCM
Thanks,
Brad

[THW]

Brad,
Rich has a really good point to consider. But it is important to realize that there are NOT competent, true HCM cardiologist specialists everywhere. Once you've been to a HCM specialist, you KNOW you've been to one. I don't live near one, but I travel to see Dr. Lever at Cleveland Clinic each year. Fortunately, my local cardiologist doesn't have an ego that gets in the way; he's rather conscientious and is eager to heed Dr. Lever's advice. So I feel like I have the next best thing, and I'm grateful for that.

Sorry to hear of your diagnosis, but welcome to the HCMA. You will learn alot here! Congratulations on your upcoming graduation. Whew -- that must feel good. (regardless of what our friend, Cynthia, warns ;))

If you haven't already, take a little time to call the HCMA office; you'll be given a wealth of information that you didn't even know you needed.
Take care,
Theresa

[Sarah]

If you don't want to live in the same state as an HCM center, I recommend making sure your chosen airport has direct flights. :)

Also, how did you feel in New Zealand? Do you want to live there? I'm very curious as a friend of mine is thinking of moving there (he's a bit worried about the US).

S

Feel free to PM me New Zealand stuff that is off-topic! Thanks!