Left ventricular hypertrophy

To diagnose left ventricular hypertrophy, a healthcare professional does a physical exam and asks questions about your symptoms and family’s health history. The care professional checks your blood pressure and listens to your heart with a device called a stethoscope.

Tests used to diagnose left ventricular hypertrophy may include:

Treatment for left ventricular hypertrophy depends on the cause. It may include medicines, 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.

Medicines are used to treat symptoms and prevent complications of left ventricular hypertrophy. Blood pressure medicines may help reduce or prevent thickening of the heart muscle. The type of medicine used depends on the cause of left ventricular hypertrophy.

Medicines that might be used to treat left ventricular hypertrophy or the conditions that cause it include:

Left 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 such as:

Together you and your care team can develop a treatment plan that’s best for you.

Left ventricular hypertrophy is a thickening of the wall of the heart’s main pumping chamber, called the left ventricle. This thickening may increase pressure within the heart. The condition can make it harder for the heart to pump blood. The most common cause is high blood pressure.

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.