left ventricle dilated

is it serious left ventricle dilated

[kenkeith]

QUOTE: "is it serious left ventricle dilated:

>>>>>>I had a dilated left ventricle about 6 years ago, and currently the heart is normal size and pumping adequately.  To answer your question, a dilated ventricle can be serious and not successfully treated depending on the underlying cause.

The left ventricle normally dilates to increase the heart's output to help maintain a balance of blood flow between left and right side.  If a condition develops and not properly treated, the left ventricle will continue to increase and overcompensate.  When this happens the heart's ability to pump adequately is diminished and left untreated will cause heart failure....that happened for me. The explanation for this phenomonon relates to the Frank/Starling mechanism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank%E2%80%93Starling_law_of_the_heart).

If the heart has dilated in response to high resistance of vessels due to coronary vessel occlusions, effective treatment for the occlusions can reduce the resistance the heart pumps against and the relief of a heavy workload can return the dilated LV to normal size. Other conditions can cause the heart to be stressed and enlarge...do you have any information such as the heart's wall dimensions, heart valve condition, etc.

Thanks for your question, and if you have any further questions, you are welcome to respond.  Take care.