lv concentric hypertrophy

[mowebb]

I am a 40 year old mom that was recently put on blood pressure meds.  The echo showed mild concentric left vent hypertrophy, with a LV ejection fraction greater than 75%.  My mother had her first massive stroke at 49 and the second fatal one at 55.  Her father died of stroke and my first cousin had a massive stroke at 40. My paternal grandfather died of a heart attack.  My father has a pacemaker. Question, can I stop this train?  I eat great, exercise, have a one and two year old that keep me always on the go. I take two baby aspirins a day.  What more can I do and how serious is the hypertrophy.  Thank you so much.  Maureen

[kptocs]

check your BP in various positions.  Did you have HTN in pregnancy that did not go away once you delivered?  considere to have your kidneys scanned (doppler) and see some one who specializes in HTN in young people especially women in child bearing age.  

[mowebb]

I had severe pre-eclampsia with the first pregnancy, had to deliver prematurely, My bp was 110/62 with both pregs until the eclampsia kicked in. My father had a diseased kidney removed 30 yrs ago, all he remembers is that it had cysts.

[kenkeith]

For a perspective, normal EF is 55 to 75%.  Chronic hypertension and aorta stenosis can/will increa\se heart wall thickness that is a physical change to tissue structure with or without a change in the radius of the heart chamber.

The physical change of the heart tissue generates a greater contractile force and accounts for the over 75% for the EF.  Your condition is not severe according to your post, but control of afterload (high blood pressure, etc.) to decrease the workload for the heart can/will slow any progession and possibly reverse.  

[mowebb]

Thank you.