Left Ventricular Hypertrophy or LVH is a heart condition that causes mortal danger to one’s life if left untreated. LVH, as it is popularly known, is the thickening and enlargement of the heart wall in the heart’s left ventricle, a prominent blood-pumping chamber. The thickening causes the heart muscles to lose their elasticity and become rigid. The condition adds extra pressure to the heart to fill up the chamber and pump the blood. In the long run, LVH declines the heart capacity to produce enough pressure to pump blood to the body. Show The condition develops gradually, and at times goes unnoticed until it reaches critical stages. Regular heart health checks, hence, make a huge difference in keeping up with the heart-wellness. NYU Langone heart specialists often recommend certain lifestyle guidelines for people with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Your doctor may ask you to lose weight if you are overweight, quit smoking, and limit your alcohol intake. Exercise is essential for health and wellbeing, and we encourage people with HCM to exercise. However, because this condition can cause serious heart problems during very strenuous exercise, your doctor may recommend limiting competition in athletics and extreme levels of exertion. Each person has recommendations for exercise tailored to their age and overall health. These lifestyle changes can help improve symptoms and prevent the condition from worsening.
Regular exercise reduces heart rate and blood pressure and provides overall health benefits. However, it is important to follow your doctor’s recommendations regarding activity levels because extremes of exercise can be harmful to some people with HCM. Your NYU Langone doctor can help determine the type and amount of exercise that is right for you. If exercise or activity causes symptoms, such as chest pain or shortness of breath, stop immediately and report them to your doctor. It’s also important to avoid exercising on hot days and to stay hydrated. Your doctor may recommend exercising on an empty stomach because eating a large meal can worsen obstruction in some people. Be sure to consult with your heart specialist before starting any exercise program.
Hypertension can worsen the symptoms of HCM, so it’s important to achieve or maintain a healthy blood pressure. Take blood pressure medication as directed by the doctor managing your HCM. This is because some blood pressure medications can worsen obstruction in certain people. Your doctor may advise you to use a home monitor to track your blood pressure levels and to report any unusual findings.
Eating a healthy diet can improve heart health. A heart-healthy diet includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats and fish. We recommend a diet low in animal fat to reduce cholesterol. Nutritionists at NYU Langone’s Rusk Rehabilitation can create a diet plan for you and teach you how to read food labels to get the best results.
NYU Langone doctors recommend that people with this condition limit or avoid alcohol. Alcoholic drinks can worsen obstruction in the heart, which reduce blood flow to the body. Alcohol consumption can also promote weight gain, which can worsen symptoms.
If you have diabetes, you’re at risk for coronary artery disease, which can worsen HCM symptoms. Your NYU Langone cardiac doctor may refer you to a specialist who can help you manage diabetes using home glucose monitoring, oral medication, or insulin injections.
Excessive stress can raise your blood pressure, which can increase the risk of cardiomyopathy. To better manage it, get plenty of sleep, exercise regularly as instructed by your doctor, and consider practicing relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and yoga, which can benefit the body and mind.
Smoking tobacco can worsen some HCM symptoms. It causes a narrowing of the coronary arteries. The combination of HCM and coronary artery disease is dangerous. If you smoke, experts at NYU Langone’s Tobacco Cessation Programs can teach you techniques designed to help you quit.
Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) means that the muscle of the heart's main pump (left ventricle) has become thick and enlarged. This can happen over time if the left ventricle has to work too hard. This part of the heart needs to be strong to pump oxygen-rich blood to your entire body. When the ventricle gets thick, other changes can happen in the heart. The heart's electrical system might not work normally, the heart muscle may not get enough oxygen, and the heart may not pump as well as it should. LVH is usually caused by high blood pressure. It may also be caused by a heart problem, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or a heart valve problem like aortic valve stenosis. It can be stressful to learn that you have a problem with your heart. But there are things you can do to feel better and help keep this condition from getting worse. LVH is usually caused by high blood pressure. It may also be caused by a heart problem, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or a heart valve problem like aortic valve stenosis. LVH may not cause symptoms. When it does, the most common ones are:
New or worse symptoms may be a sign of heart failure. Heart failure means that your heart doesn't pump as much blood as your body needs. Your doctor will do a physical exam and ask you about any health problems you've had. You'll also be asked if any of your family members have or had heart disease or died suddenly from heart problems. You may have tests such as an echocardiogram and an electrocardiogram (EKG). The best treatment will depend on what caused LVH. For many people, the focus will be on treating high blood pressure. Getting high blood pressure under control may keep LVH from getting worse. This can help prevent heart failure. It can also help lower the risk of heart attack and stroke. Medicines and lifestyle changes are used to treat high blood pressure. It may take some time to find the right medicine or medicines for you. Work with your doctor by taking your medicines as prescribed and going to all of your follow-up appointments. If LVH was caused by a heart problem, you may have other treatment options. Treatment may help lower your risk of heart failure and other serious problems. Healthy habits are important for your heart. Taking an active role in your treatment can help you feel better and protect your health.
Health Information Library
Left ventricular hypertrophy is thickening of the walls of the lower left heart chamber. The lower left heart chamber is called the left ventricle. The left ventricle is the heart's main pumping chamber. During left ventricular hypertrophy, the thickened heart wall can become stiff. Blood pressure in the heart increases. The changes make it harder for the heart to effectively pump blood. Eventually, the heart may fail to pump with as much force as needed. Uncontrolled high blood pressure is the most common cause of left ventricular hypertrophy. Complications include irregular heart rhythms, called arrhythmias, and heart failure. Treatment of left ventricular hypertrophy depends on the cause. Treatment may include medications or surgery.
Left ventricular hypertrophy usually develops gradually. Some people do not have symptoms, especially during the early stages of the condition. Left ventricular hypertrophy itself doesn't cause symptoms. But symptoms may occur as the strain on the heart worsens. They may include:
When to see a doctorSeek emergency care if:
If you have mild shortness of breath or other symptoms, such as palpitations, see your health care provider. If you have high blood pressure or another condition that increases the risk of left ventricular hypertrophy, your provider is likely to recommend regular health checkups to check your heart.
Anything that puts stress on the heart's lower left chamber can lead to left ventricular hypertrophy. The lower left chamber is called the left ventricle. As the strain on the left ventricle increases, the muscle tissue in the chamber wall thickens. Sometimes, the size of the heart chamber itself also increases. Left ventricular hypertrophy also may be caused by gene changes that affect the heart muscle's structure. Things that can cause the heart to work harder and may possibly lead to left ventricular hypertrophy include:
Certain conditions passed down through families — called genetic conditions — can make the heart thicker. They include:
Things that increase the risk of left ventricular hypertrophy include:
Left ventricular hypertrophy changes the structure and function of the heart. The thickened left ventricle becomes weak and stiff. This prevents the lower left heart chamber from filling properly with blood. As a result, blood pressure in the heart increases. As a result of these changes, complications of left ventricular hypertrophy include:
The same healthy lifestyle changes recommended to treat heart diseases and high blood pressure also help prevent it. To prevent left ventricular hypertrophy caused by high blood pressure:
Uncontrolled high blood pressure increases the risk of left ventricular hypertrophy. Get your blood pressure checked at least every two years if you're 18 and older. If you have risk factors for heart disease or are over age 40, you may need more-frequent checks. Ask your health care provider what blood pressure reading is best for you. Your provider may recommend checking your blood pressure at home. Home blood pressure monitoring devices are available at local stores and pharmacies.
Your health care provider does a physical exam and asks questions about your symptoms and family's health history. The care provider checks your blood pressure and listens to your heart with a device called a stethoscope. TestsIf your health care provider thinks you have left ventricular hypertrophy, imaging tests may be done to look at the heart. Tests used to diagnose left ventricular hypertrophy may include:
Treatment for left ventricular hypertrophy depends on the underlying cause. It may include medications, catheter procedures or surgery. It's important to manage conditions such as high blood pressure and sleep apnea, which can cause blood pressure to be higher. MedicationsMedicines are used to treat symptoms and prevent complications of left ventricular hypertrophy. Blood pressure drugs may help reduce or prevent thickening of the heart muscle. The type of medication prescribed depends on the cause of left ventricular hypertrophy. Medications that might be used to treat left ventricular hypertrophy or the conditions that cause it include:
Surgery or other proceduresLeft ventricular hypertrophy that is caused by aortic valve stenosis might require a catheter procedure or surgery to repair or replace the valve. Surgery or other procedures may be needed to treat underlying conditions.
Together you and your provider can develop a treatment plan that's best for you.
Lifestyle changes can help lower blood pressure and boost heart health. Try these healthy lifestyle changes:
You may be referred to a doctor trained in treating heart diseases. This type of provider is called a cardiologist. What you can do
Questions to ask your doctor
Don't hesitate to ask any other questions during your appointment. What to expect from your doctorYour health care provider is likely to ask you many questions. Being ready to answer them may leave time to go over items you want to spend more time on. You may be asked:
|