Left ventricular hypertrophy

Diagnosis

Your doctor examines you physically and inquires about your symptoms and the health history of your family. The healthcare professional uses a stethoscope to listen to your heart and check your blood pressure.

Tests

Imaging studies to examine the heart may be performed if your doctor suspects you have left ventricular hypertrophy.

The following tests may be performed to identify left ventricular hypertrophy:

• Lab tests.It is possible to perform blood and urine tests to look for disorders that compromise heart health. Blood sugar, lipid levels, liver function, and renal function may all be tested.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG).This rapid and painless test, often known as an ECG or EKG, gauges the electrical activity of the heart. Sensors known as electrodes are affixed to the chest, and occasionally the arms or legs, during an ECG. The sensors are linked by wires to a device that outputs or displays the results. How well the heart is beating can be seen on an ECG. Signal patterns that show thicker cardiac muscle tissue can be looked for by your doctor.
• Echocardiogram.Sound waves are used in an echocardiography to produce images of the beating heart. This test reveals the flow of blood within the heart and its valves. It can also detect thickened heart muscle tissue and identify heart valve issues associated with left ventricular hypertrophy.
• Heart Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).Magnetic fields and radio waves are used in this examination, also known as a cardiac MRI, to produce precise images of the heart.

Treatment

The underlying cause of left ventricular hypertrophy affects how it is treated. It can entail taking medication, getting a catheter procedure, or having surgery. It’s crucial to control disorders like high blood pressure and sleep apnea because they can both raise blood pressure.

Medications

The symptoms of left ventricular hypertrophy are treated with medication, and complications are also avoided. Blood pressure medications may aid in preventing or reducing heart muscle thickening. The reason of left ventricular hypertrophy will determine the kind of medication that is recommended.

The following medicines could be utilized to treat left ventricular hypertrophy or the factors that lead to it:

• Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors).These drugs expand blood vessels to reduce blood pressure. They can improve blood flow and lessen the heart’s workload. One of the side effects is a chronic cough.
• Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs). These medications offer advantages comparable to ACE inhibitors but do not induce a chronic cough.
• Beta blockers.These medicines aid in heart rate regulation. They also assist the heart in pumping blood with reduced force.
• Calcium channel blockers.These medications expand blood vessels and relax the cardiac muscle. Blood pressure decreases as a result.
• Water pills (diuretics).These medications lower blood pressure by reducing bodily fluid levels.

Surgery or other procedures

A catheter technique or surgery to repair or replace the valve may be necessary to treat left ventricular hypertrophy brought on by aortic valve stenosis.

The treatment of underlying diseases may necessitate surgery or other procedures.

• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.If the problem results in heart failure symptoms or a blockage that prevents the heart from pumping normally, surgery may be necessary.
• Amyloidosis.A stem cell transplant can be required if previous treatments are unsuccessful. At specialized clinics, amyloidosis can be treated.

You can create the proper treatment plan for you with the help of your doctor.