Is Breathlessness a Symptom of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy?

Hello,

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) means that the muscle wall of the heart's main pumping chamber, the left ventricle, has become thicker than normal. LVH is commonly associated with long-standing high blood pressure, but heart-valve problems, certain heart-muscle conditions and other causes can also lead to it. 

Because you are experiencing breathlessness and uneasiness along with LVH, you should not ignore these symptoms. Breathlessness can occur when the thickened heart muscle becomes stiff and affects how the heart fills and pumps blood.

What Should You Do?

Please arrange a consultation with a cardiologist, particularly if the breathlessness is new, getting worse, or occurs during walking or other activity.

The cardiologist review or recommend

• ECG

• Echocardiography (2D Echo)

• Blood pressure monitoring

• Blood and urine tests

• Blood sugar and cholesterol testing

• Kidney-function tests

• Further cardiac imaging, such as cardiac MRI, when required

An echocardiogram can assess the thickness of the heart muscle, heart function and heart valves.

Treatment for LVH

LVH treatment depends on the underlying cause rather than simply treating the thickened muscle itself. If high blood pressure is responsible, controlling blood pressure is particularly important and prescribed medicines help prevent further progression.

Depending on the cause, treatment include

• Blood-pressure medicines

• Medicines to control heart rate

• Medicines to manage fluid retention when required

• Treatment for heart-valve disease

• Specific treatment for an underlying heart-muscle disorder

Do not start, stop or change heart medicines without your cardiologist's advice.

Precautions and Lifestyle Changes

Until your cardiologist evaluates the breathlessness :

• Monitor your blood pressure regularly.

• Reduce excess salt in your diet.

• Avoid smoking and tobacco.

• Limit or avoid alcohol.

• Maintain a healthy weight.

• Take prescribed medicines regularly.

• Avoid suddenly starting strenuous exercise.

• Follow your cardiologist's advice regarding the appropriate level of physical activity.

• Keep diabetes and cholesterol under control if applicable.

Healthy lifestyle measures can help control the conditions that contribute to LVH.

When Is It an Emergency?

Please seek emergency medical care immediately if you develop

• Severe or rapidly worsening breathlessness

• Chest pain or pressure lasting more than a few minutes

• Fainting or severe dizziness

• Severe palpitations with weakness or breathlessness

• Sudden weakness, difficulty speaking or other neurological symptoms

These symptoms can indicate a serious cardiac problem and should not be managed with home remedies.

LVH does not always mean that the heart is failing, and the severity cannot be determined from the term “LVH” alone. The actual echocardiogram findings, blood pressure, ejection fraction, valve condition and symptoms need to be assessed by a cardiologist.

If you share your city and state , we can help you understand what the findings mean and what questions to discuss with your cardiologist.

We can help you connect with experienced cardiologists at partner hospitals and assist with consultation and treatment coordination.

Wishing you and your family good health always.
Warm regards,
Team HexaHealth