Re: Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

Posted By CCF-CARDIO-MD-APS on April 06, 1998 at 13:06:17:

In Reply to: Left Ventricular Hypertrophy posted by Martin Vladic on April 02, 1998 at 06:31:01:






What is left ventricular hypertrophy? Is that something I should worry about?



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Dear Martin Vladic,
      Left ventricular hypertrophy is best explained if you first understand that the heart is a muscle.
As you work any muscle it will grow in response (better said it hypertrophies), the best example of this
is when a person works out at the gym, they build muscle and strength.  However unlike the muscles in your
arm or legs, hypertrophy of the heart muscle is a coping mechanism, and does not make the heart stronger.  If
the hypertrophy is not recognized, fully evaluated, and treated the heart will at some point in the future fail
(usually years.)  The most common cause of Left ventricular hypertrophy (abbreviated LVH) is uncontrolled high blood
pressure which puts undue pressure on the left ventricle and the only way it can compensate is to hypertrophy(grow.)
     There are a few other causes of LVH and therefore treatments vary, so you should not be worrying so much as inquiring
of your physician as to the cause and potential reversibility of the hypertrophy as well as what treatment plans there are
that are available to you.  Please inquire further with more details and questions as you need.  Regardless if you do have
LVH that is moderate or severe it certainly has never been reported to get better on it's own.
     Information provided in the Heart Forum is intended for general medical informational purposes only.  Actual diagnosis and
treatment can only be made by your physician(s).