Contents
Definition of the disease
Hypertrophy of the ventricular myocardium or cardiomyopathy is an increase in heart muscle mass, a dangerous condition that increases the risk of death. This is how the body reacts to high blood pressure. But in general, for this kind of change, the prognosis can be favorable, because there are many different modern methods of treatment.
Causes of ventricular hypertrophy
As a rule, the term myocardial hypertrophy means an increase in the left or right, as well as both ventricles. Any physical activity, bad habits, for example, overeating, smoking are undesirable for the heart. From the first minutes of birth, the heart must withstand a certain load and the strength of this important organ depends on the state of myocardial tone, that is, the heart muscle.
With a heavy load on the heart, a lot of blood is required, which means more heart contractions. Each contraction of the heart is the passage of a certain amount of blood through the atria and ventricles. The heart functions like a distillation pump. Pressure is created that promotes the pumping of blood from the atria to the ventricles, then to the aorta, after which the entire circulatory system is filled.
Loads lead to the fact that the amount of blood exceeds the norm, the heart starts to work faster, because you need to cope and pump a large volume of blood, supplying it to all parts of the human body. The ventricles of the heart must have time to eject any mass of blood into the aorta, and if the heart is not able to work in such a rhythm, then the myocardium loses its elastic properties and increases in volume.
A constant pathological process, contributes to the growth of myocardial hypertrophy. Hypertrophy can be provoked not only by hypertension, but also by congenital or acquired heart defects, impaired blood supply to the myocardium, overweight or excessive exercise. Doctors also note hereditary predisposition among the reasons.
An increase in the ventricle of the heart occurs in people of different age categories, but children are most often affected. Cardiac hypertrophy occurs in newborns, this is due to the fact that a large load falls on the right side of the heart.
But most often, ventricular hypertrophy indicates a congenital heart disease, which is expressed in a violation of the outflow of blood from the right ventricle. Also, among the reasons, there is a change in the interventricular septum, leading to a situation where both departments communicate with each other, while the blood is poorly saturated with oxygen.
Compensating for the lack of nutrition of the organs, the heart works hard, causing hypertrophy. Often, an increase in pressure in the pulmonary artery causes hypertrophy. From this, there are dizziness, shortness of breath and multiple fainting. Another factor in the appearance of this pathology is stenosis of the lung valve.
Signs and symptoms of ventricular hypertrophy
Myocardial hypertrophy is insidious, it can be undetectable for a long time. People live with this problem for years without even knowing it. The diagnosis is made during an accidental or scheduled physical examination or during an autopsy after a person’s death.
Many people with myocardial hypertrophy experience pain in the heart, resembling angina pectoris in symptoms, fainting occurs with them, there is shortness of breath during physical activities, heart rhythm disturbances.
Diagnostics ventricular hypertrophy
To diagnose cardiomyopathy, an echocardiogram, the calculation of a special index that determines the degree of hypertrophy, a two-dimensional echocardiogram, magnetic resonance imaging, Doppler echocardiography, and positron emission tomography are used. During treatment, the patient’s condition is monitored mainly with the help of an electrocardiogram.
Treatment of ventricular hypertrophy
In treatment, the main task is to reduce the size of the ventricle of the heart. To solve the problem, an integrated approach is needed. In addition to drug therapy, it is necessary to change the habitual way of life that caused the disease. Elimination of the phenomenon of myocardial hypertrophy is possible in the process of using highly effective, modern drugs. Their healing properties allow you to bring the heart muscle back to normal.
In severe cases, surgery is performed to remove part of the hypertrophied muscle. Changing the lifestyle of patients is important, they are recommended to consult specialists in rehabilitators and nutritionists. Patients who wish to be healthy and at the same time overweight are prescribed an individual diet.
Treatment will be successful if you can overcome bad habits, reduce salt intake, stop drinking alcohol, exclude foods that kill the body with cholesterol, remove smoked and fried foods from the menu.