Enlarged left ventricle

[SANDRA1939]

I AM A 68 YEAR OLD WOMAN.  SLIGHTLY OVER WEIGHT AND ACTIVE.  MY BLOOD PRESSURE IS GOOD.
112/65.

I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH AN ENLARGED LEFT VENTRICLE BY AN ECHOCARADIOGRAM.

MY DOCTOR IS NOT CONCERNED AND DOES NOT RECOMMEND ANY TREATMENT OR SEEING A SPECIALIST. HE ONLY WANTS ME TO MONITOR MY BLOOD PRESSURE WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN GOOD.  WE ARE SNOW BIRDS AND PLAN TO LEAVE FOR THE WINTER JUST AFTER CHRISTMAS.  I'M CONCERNED ABOUT BEING SO FAR FROM MY DOCTOR AND HOSPITAL, JUST IN CASE I HAVE PROBLEMS.  HE SAID TO GO AND NOT WORRY.  I WILL MAIL HIM MY BLOOD PRESSURE READINGS ONCE A MONTH.  AM I BEING OVERLY CONCERNED?

ANY SUGGESTIONS WILL BE APPRECIATED.  THANK YOU.

[vienna13]

Thanks for your answer, and your nice words!
I wish you a Happy New Year too ! Hope we will see you around here again in 2008.

[kenkeith]

Hi vienna, good to hear from you!.  You are correct "all" is a broad brush.  Many people with an unhealthy diet experience CAD and as one ages the heart size increases to compensate.
However, there are populations and groups with a heart-healthy diet  and have  favorable lipid levels and records indicate less heart disease.  That information comes with some research by the medical community as well as other facts that justifies lowering cholesterol. Have happy New Year and take care.

[vienna13]

Hi. Nice to see you. We met at HCOL few years back. Good to see you doing well.

I understand all the academic of the heart, as much as I was able to learn as a patient on the 'google and forums free university':)...my problem was with the statement above stating:
  
"WE ALL"....who we all? ALL THE PEOPLE ON EART?  It is not? ...or it is?
It is irresponsible to say ALL....if not all...but AGAIN I DONT KNOW....I just would like to know from somebody who knows.

Maybe MANY people with age?........

or as you stated is correct:

" some expectation the heart will enlarge as we age." I agree with this.

[kenkeith]

As stated there is some expectation the heart will enlarge as we age.  As we age vessels loses some elasticity causing the heart to work harder pumping against higher resistence.  The heart compensates by increasing the size of the left ventricle.

I hade a DILATED LV several years ago together with heart failure (EF below 29%).  Reduce the heart's workload with an ACE inhibitor and beta blocker
medication (relaxes vessels, increase contractility, slow the heart rate, etc.) enables the heart to reverse remodeling, sometimes not always.

There is an enlargement (remodeled) due to muscular growth caused by a viral disease, drugs, etc.  As the heart grows the walls become thicker and impairs contraction as well as it may restrict an adequate filling of blood/oxygen.  

[vienna13]

"we all will have some enlargement of the left ventricle as we age"  
by mamameow


we all?....I didnt know that. I am not sure that is correct. If it is, would you please tell where did you get that from?

[mamameow]

we all will have some enlargement of the left ventricle as we age. some, more enlargement than others. could be family history, could be weight. you do not mention any symptoms and you are active. to find out your ejection fraction % (ef%), ask the doctor what it was on the echo. also ask the degree of enlargment. also ask what the parameters are for normal ef% and enlargement.

[vienna13]

Do you know your EF %? Most likely it is normal if he didn’t put you on any medication, but I still would ask him! If you are active that’s great ,try to do a little more exercise, walk or  some light but regular aerobic ,try to lose that little over weight. I know it is easier to say then do, but we must. Other thing watch your diet  ,more then you ever did. Don’t go higher then 2000 mg sodium per day. Start   calculate; don’t forget almost all food has sodium naturally. Maybe he pointed out that for you. He is right do not worry.:)……but be proactive..It is your life… Have a great holiday !

http://www.annecollins.com/sodium-diet.htm

[anacyde]

Hi there.  If your doctor isn't terribly concerned, that would be reassuring.  Certainly if you have any symptoms, I would report them immediately.  Otherwise, enjoy getting out of the winter weather :)