Concentric LVH

[Bereagal]

I recently had a nuclear stress test and my results showed that I have concentric LVH.  My PCP says that this was caused by high blood pressure.  My question is, can this be reversed with well controlled blood pressure? I was already taking 20 mg of Propanolol per day and she gave me another blood pressure med today.  Is this a really serious condition? I am a 37 year old female ,  I am overweight but I am now in a exercise routine that I am able to walk about 5 1/2 miles per day, treadmill and track. Do people live healthy lives with LVH? Any help or advice that anyone could give me would be greatly appreciated as I have really no information on this and I also suffer from anxiety and am really worried about this diagnosis.

[Bereagal]

I just got a copy of the stress test results and it shows that I have Mild LVH. It also says this:
max heart rate of 188, which is more than 100% of max. for age
max rate pressure product of 30,832 and work load of 10.0 MET's
test was stopped due to completion of protocol
patient did not develop angina
no significant dysrhythmias were demonstrated

Findings: On baseline ECG patient had nonspecifis T-wave abnormality with no ST changes at peak exercise.  Ejection fraction was calculated at 82.4%.  Scintigraphic evaluation demonstrated mild LVH with mild basilar anteroseptal and moderate inferior and inferolateral photopenia with no significant reversibility on resting images.

Conclusion:
1. Stress EKG neg. for inducible ischemia
2. hyperdynamic global left ventricular systolic funstion, most likely secondary to small cavitary dimensions
3. concentric LVH
4. predominantly fixed inferior and inferolateral perfusion defect appears artifactual given intact wall thickening.  Similarly, basilar anteroseptal defect also appears artifactual and I doubt prior infarct.
5. No significant scintigraphic reversible ishemia demonstrated.

Does all of this sound normal? My doctor said yesterday that keeping my BP under control that the LVH could be reduces in as little as 6 months. He even took me off of one of the BP meds because I have lost 12 pounds and he thought that one BP med was enough at this time. He said that it had actually gotten to low. Should I be encouraged by these findings? This is the first time that I have ever had to deal with something like this and the big medical terms are a little scary to me. Thanks in advance for all the help and advice.

[tickertock]

Trust me, I know about anxiety and it is almost worse than most physical problems, I can almost assure you, you'll be just fine & if in doubt a second opinion for a peace of mind it won't hurt. Take care & good luck.

[tickertock]

I've posted several questions on the forum to the CCF Doc. regarding LVH. I too was stressed out about the diagnosis of LVH, first in 2001 with marginal concentric LVH, then in 2005 with mild LVH. I am due for an Echo this year but I think I'll have to skip it by a few months to a year.

I was told not to worry about it too much by my cardiologist, apparently it is a common finding in persons with even mild hypertension such as I had , which is now totally controlled, I'm also 30 lbs overweight which I'm trying to work on , I can lose it pretty fast when I put my mind to it , but it is hard to do.

The important thing is know what degree of hypertrophy you have and rule out hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HCM), get checked out every 1-3 years, make sure your BP is controlled and once it does not progress, your overall prognosis is very good,please don't stress out about this, I stressed out about this and still my heart is deemed essentially normal with no leaks of the valves with a normal EF.I'm not a MD, but keep your BP under control and it will either regress or dont get any worse, overall people with LVH have a favorable prognosis and it is common finding.

[Bereagal]

Thanks for the advice. It is good to hear from someone with the same problem. My dr. did not say anything about HCM only the concentric LVH and I only received my results this past Monday. My test chowed no signs of ischemia either. My Bp is now in the 114/77 range nad has been this for the last two days. My PCP said that she would order an Echocardiogram in about a year. i am trying really hard not to stress to much about it, it just really scared me when I got the diagnosis. I deal with an anxiety issue and every little thing seems to send me right to the edge. Thanks again for the insight.

[Bereagal]

About how long does it take to reverse or improve?  I am taking Bp meds now and my blood pressure is well under control, and has been for the last 2 months. It has been running about 120/80, but my PCP thinks that this is not low enough, that is why she put me on a second bp med. Do people live long, healthy lives as long as the LVH does not worsen? What else could I do to improve it? I am exercising 5 days a week and changing diet.

[anacyde]

Yes, it can be reversed if your blood pressure comes down.  It could be serious if it continued to worsen.  Stable or improving would be the goal.  Take steps to ensure you're following all the recommendations to lower your blood pressure.