Description

Left ventricular hypertrophy is a thickening of the walls of the lower left part of the heart of the camera. The lower left chamber of the heart called the left ventricle. The left ventricle is the heart's main pumping chamber.

During left ventricular hypertrophy, the thickening of the wall of the heart may become rigid. The blood pressure in the heart increases. The changes make it more difficult for the heart to pump blood effectively. Finally, the heart may fail to pump with as much force as necessary.

Uncontrolled high blood pressure is the most common cause of left ventricular hypertrophy. Complications include irregular heart rhythms, called arrhythmias, and heart failure.

Treatment of left ventricular hypertrophy depends on the cause. Treatment may include medications or surgery.

Symptoms

Left ventricular hypertrophy develops gradually. Some people have no symptoms, especially during the early stages of the disease.

Left ventricular hypertrophy in itself does not cause symptoms. But the symptoms can occur as the pressure on the heart makes it worse. They may include:

  • Shortness of breath, especially while lying down.
  • Swelling of the legs.
  • Pain in the chest, often when you exercise.
  • The sensation of rapid, pounding, or racing heartbeat, called palpitations.
  • Fainting or feeling light-headed.

When to see a doctor

Seek emergency medical attention if:

  • Feel pain in the chest that lasts more than a couple of minutes.
  • You have severe difficulty breathing.
  • You have severe dizziness or loss of consciousness.
  • You have a sudden severe headache, slurred speech, or weakness on one side of your body.

If you have mild shortness of breath or other symptoms, such as palpitations, consult your health care professional.

If you have high blood pressure, or some other condition that increases the risk of left ventricular hypertrophy, with your health care team will likely recommend regular check-ups to check your heart.

Causes

Anything that puts stress on the heart in the bottom left of the camera can cause left ventricular hypertrophy. The left lower chamber called the left ventricle. As the pressure in the left lower chamber increases, the muscle tissue in the chamber wall thickens. Sometimes, the size of the heart chamber itself also increases.

Left ventricular hypertrophy can also be caused by changes in genes that affect the heart muscle of the structure.

Things that can make the heart work harder and, possibly, can lead to left ventricular hypertrophy are:

  • The high blood pressure. Also called hypertension, is the most common cause of left ventricular hypertrophy. Long-term high blood pressure strains the left side of the heart, causing it to grow bigger. The treatment of high blood pressure can help to reduce left ventricular hypertrophy symptoms and may even reverse.
  • Narrowing of the aortic valve. The aortic valve is located between the lower left chamber of the heart and the body's main artery, called the aorta. Narrowing of the valve is called aortic stenosis. When the valve is narrowed, the heart must work harder to pump the blood forward into the aorta.
  • Intensive sports training. Intense, long-term strength and resistance training produces changes in the heart. The changes help the heart against excessive physical workload. But the changes can cause the heart muscle to make it larger. Sometimes this is called athlete's heart or athletic heart syndrome. It is not clear if the increased size of the heart in athletes can lead to stiffness of the muscles of the heart and the disease.

Certain conditions passed down through families, called genetic conditions, can cause the heart to harden. They include:

  • Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (hcm). This condition is caused by changes in genes that cause the heart muscle to thicken. The thickening makes it harder for the heart to pump blood. Can occur even without high blood pressure. People with a parent with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy have a 50% chance of having the mutated gene that causes the disease.
  • Amyloidosis. The protein accumulates around the organs, including the heart. The collection of proteins interferes with the functioning of the bodies of work. When the disease is transmitted through families, it is called familial amyloidosis. It can also affect the nerves and kidneys.

Risk factors

Things that increase the risk of left ventricular hypertrophy are:

  • Age. Left ventricular hypertrophy is more common in older people. This is the high blood pressure, which can cause thickening of the heart muscle.
  • Weight. Being overweight increases your risk of high blood pressure and left ventricular hypertrophy.
  • The history of the family. The changes in the genes that are transmitted through families can lead to left ventricular hypertrophy.
  • Diabetes. Having diabetes increases the risk of left ventricular hypertrophy.
  • The feminine gender. Women with high blood pressure are more likely to develop the disease than men, with similar measurements of the blood pressure.

Complications

The left ventricular hypertrophy, changes the structure of the heart and how the heart works. The thickening of the left ventricle becomes weak and stiff. This prevents the lower left part of the heart of the chamber of properly filled with blood. As a result, the blood pressure in the heart increases.

The complications of left ventricular hypertrophy are:

  • Heart failure.
  • The irregular heart rhythms, called arrhythmias.
  • Too little oxygen to the heart, is called ischemic heart disease.
  • Sudden, unexpected loss of heart function, breathing and consciousness, called a sudden cardiac arrest.

Prevention

The same healthy lifestyle changes that are recommended to treat high blood pressure also help to prevent left ventricular hypertrophy. Try these tips:

  • Do not smoke.
  • Eat healthy foods.
  • Use less salt.
  • Limit or avoid the consumption of alcohol.
  • Get regular exercise.
  • Maintain a healthy weight.
  • Getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep daily.
  • Manage stress.

Uncontrolled high blood pressure increases the risk of left ventricular hypertrophy. Get your blood pressure checked at least every two years if you are under 18 years of age and older. If you have risk factors for heart disease, and has more than 40 years of age, you may need more frequent checks. Ask your health care team what is the blood pressure reading is the best for you. Your health care professional may recommend checking your blood pressure at home. Home blood pressure monitors are available at the local stores, and pharmacies.

Diagnosis

To diagnose left ventricular hypertrophy, a health professional will perform a physical examination and will ask you questions about your symptoms and family's health history. The care provider checks your blood pressure and listen to your heart with a device called a stethoscope.

Tests

Diagnostic tests of left ventricular hypertrophy may include:

  • The laboratory tests. Blood and urine tests may be done to check for conditions that affect heart health. Tests may be done to check blood sugar, cholesterol levels, liver and kidney function.
  • The electrocardiogram. Also called an ECG or EKG, this quick and painless test that measures the electrical activity of the heart. During an ECG , sensors called electrodes are attached to the chest and, at times, the arms or the legs. Connect the cables from the sensors to a machine, which displays or prints the results. An EKG can show how well the heart is beating. Your health care provider may search for patterns of signals that suggest that the thickening of the heart muscle tissue.
  • The echocardiogram. An echocardiogram uses sound waves to create images of the heart in motion. This test shows blood flow through the heart and the heart valves. May show thickening of the heart muscle tissue and heart valve problems related to left ventricular hypertrophy.
  • HeartMRI. This test, also known as cardiac mri uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed pictures of the heart.

Treatment

Treatment of left ventricular hypertrophy depends on the cause. You can include medications, catheter procedures or surgery. It is important to control conditions such as high blood pressure and sleep apnea, which can cause the pressure is greater.

Drugs

The drugs are used to treat the symptoms and help prevent complications of left ventricular hypertrophy. Blood pressure medications can help reduce or prevent the thickening of the heart muscle. The type of medication used depends on the cause of left ventricular hypertrophy.

Drugs that can be used to treat hypertrophy of the left ventricle or of the conditions that cause it include:

  • Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. Also called ACE inhibitors, these drugs dilate the blood vessels to reduce blood pressure. It can improve blood flow and decrease the strain on the heart. The side effects include a persistent cough.
  • Angiotensin II receptor blockers. Also called Bra, these drugs have benefits similar to those of ACE inhibitors, but does not cause a persistent cough.
  • Beta-blockers. These medicines help to control the heart rate. It also helps the heart to pump blood with less force.
  • Calcium channel blockers. These medications relax the muscle of the heart and dilating the blood vessels. This reduces the blood pressure.
  • Water pills, also called diuretics. These drugs reduce the amount of fluid in the body, the reduction of blood pressure.

Surgery or other procedures

Left ventricular hypertrophy is caused by stenosis of the aortic valve may require a catheter procedure or surgery to repair or replace the valve.

Surgery or other procedures may be necessary to treat the underlying conditions such as:

  • Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (hcm). The surgery can be performed if the condition causes symptoms of heart failure or a blockage that interferes with the pumping action of the heart.
  • Amyloidosis. If other treatments do not work, a stem cell transplant may be necessary. The treatment of amyloidosis is available in specialty clinics.

Together, you and your care team can develop a treatment plan that is best for you.

Lifestyle and home remedies

Lifestyle changes can help reduce blood pressure and improve heart health. Try these changes for healthy lifestyle:

  • Eat a nutritous, healthy diet. Choose fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, and good fats, such as olive oil. Limit foods and drinks high in sugars, salt and saturated fat. Choose low-sodium or no-salt-added foods. Do not add salt to your meals.
  • Do not smoke or use tobacco. Quitting smoking is the best way of reducing the risk of heart disease and its complications. If you need help to stop smoking, talk with your health care team.
  • Limit or avoid the consumption of alcohol. Alcohol can raise blood pressure, especially if consumed in large amounts. If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation. For healthy adults, that means up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men.
  • Exercise regularly. Regular physical activity helps to lower blood pressure. With your health care team is good, try to do at least 30 minutes of physical activity most days of the week. Some sports or exercises can temporarily increase blood pressure. Talk with your health care team about the amount and type of exercise is best for you.
  • Control the weight. If you are overweight or obese, losing just a few pounds can help lower blood pressure. Weight loss can help to reverse left ventricular hypertrophy. Talk with your health care team to set realistic goals for weight.
  • Manage stress. Find ways to help reduce emotional stress. Do more exercise, the practice of mindfulness and connecting with others in support groups are some of the ways to reduce stress.

Preparing for your appointment

You may be referred to a physician trained in the treatment of diseases of the heart. This type of health care professional is called a cardiologist.

What you can do

  • Write down your symptoms, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
  • Make a list of all your medications, vitamins and supplements. Include the dose.
  • List important medical information, including other conditions you may have.
  • Write important personal information, including any recent life changes or stressors in your life.
  • Write questions to ask their health care team.
  • Find out if your family has a history of heart disease.
  • Ask someone to go with you to help you remember what the doctor says.

Questions to ask your doctor

  • What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
  • What tests do I need? How do I prepare for them?
  • What types of treatments do I need?
  • Do I need to make lifestyle changes?
  • Should I restrict any of my activities?
  • I have other health problems. How can I best manage these conditions?

Don't hesitate to ask any other questions during your appointment.

What to expect from your doctor

Your healthcare provider is likely to ask many questions. Be prepared to respond to them can stop the time to go through items that you want to spend more time. You may ask:

  • What are your symptoms?
  • When did the symptoms begin?
  • The symptoms worsened over time?
  • Do you have pain in the chest or rapid, fluttering or pounding heartbeats?
  • Do you have dizziness? Have you ever fainted?
  • Have you had trouble breathing?
  • Exercising or lying down make your symptoms worse?
  • Have you ever coughed up blood?
  • Do you have a history of high blood pressure or rheumatic fever?
  • Do you have a family history of heart problems?
  • Do you or do you smoke?
  • Make use of alcohol or caffeine?
Symptoms and treatment of Left ventricular hypertrophy