Dilated ventricle

[Niki0315]

Just wondering.... I saw a copy of my echo report that states my left ventricle is moderately dilated however says that the structure and function is normal and blood flow is normal with no wall motion damage. How can the structure be normal if it's dilated? Also I had an X-ray and ct a week before having echo and doctor said it showed no enlargement how is this possible?

[is_something_wrong]

I read somewhere that cardiac output (and EF), given everything else constant, could be determined from pulse pressure to diastolic pressure ratio.

120/68 (pulse pressure 52) / 68 is far more than 160/106 (pulse pressure 54) / 106. Based on this, I would assume EF is higher now.

Unfortunately, this may not be entirely correct because everything else is not constant, as blood pressure medications may have changed artery function. We will never find a definite answer here. I would lean towards that EF is higher now, but OP will not get a certain answer before she gets a new echo done.

[Occupant]

The OP made a statement that "my EF was high because my pressure was high" and I disputed that. In fact it would be lower. 1. If you have resistance in the "plumbing" the heart works harder to achieve the same result. 2. But, that is not the whole story - and I omitted that originally - arteries are not solid pipes and they will expand with every heart beat especially at high BP to absorb some of the blood flow and it never gets to where it is needed.

[ed34]

occupant the heart works harder with higher pressure, its harder for it to push blood through constricted vessels. This is why people with low EF have their pressures lowered to a more controllable state.

[Occupant]

Neither, it is like plumbing. Normally at high pressure, you have higher flow, but this pressure is higher because you have to overcome more resistance due to e.g. arteries being partially blocked - in the end you wind up with the same flow.

[ed34]

no, if anything your EF will improve because its easier to push the blood around.

[Niki0315]

The day I had my echo my blood pressure was high 160/106 I was calm and my heart rate was not elevated too much but I worry that is why my EF was high because my pressure was high now that my blood pressure is controlled 120/68 I'm afraid my EF will be lower!

[is_something_wrong]

You can live for 80 years with a moderately dilated heart, as long as your EF is preserved. According to your echo report, your heart is not weakened and the walls are mildly enlarged too. The problem develops if you just have one of them (dilated heart with thin walls and reduced EF OR thickened walls with narrow chambers with poor relaxation/filling). The combination is just the same as athletes experience. They rarely die (except from accidents, of course).

[Niki0315]

I do not exercise a lot but I did just have a baby I did the echo at 3 weeks after... Do you think it will return to normal?

[ed34]

your heart can enlarge, to a certain point, and remain normal in structure. Do you exercise a lot? because such things can cause enlargement.