Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

The left ventricle is the main chamber of your heart. It is responsible for pumping oxygen-rich blood into your aorta (the largest artery in the body). If the heart has to work too hard to pump blood, the muscles in the walls of the left ventricle thicken. This thickening is called hypertrophy. Hypertrophy means growing (trophy) too much (hyper).

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) makes it harder for the heart to pump blood efficiently. It can result in a lack of oxygen to the heart muscle. It can also cause changes to the heart’s conduction system that make it beat irregularly (arrhythmia).

How common is left ventricular hypertrophy?

Left ventricular hypertrophy affects an estimated 15% to 20% of the population — nearly 1 in 5 people. You may have an increased risk of LVH if you have high blood pressure or have obesity, are elderly or Black.

How serious is left ventricular hypertrophy?

Left ventricular hypertrophy usually occurs as a result of other heart problems. Together, they can raise your risk of serious complications. Left untreated, LVH affects your heart’s ability to pump blood efficiently. These changes increase your risk of other cardiac issues, including:

Arrhythmia.
Heart attack.
Heart failure.
Stroke.

Symptoms

When to see a doctor

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Complications

Blood clots are a dangerous complication of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Blood clots can lead to stroke.

The risk of stroke from AFib increases as you grow older. Other health conditions also may increase the risk of a stroke due to AFib. These conditions include:

High blood pressure.
Diabetes.
Heart failure.
Some types of heart valve disease.

Blood thinners are commonly prescribed to prevent blood clots and strokes in people with atrial fibrillation.

Prevention

Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of heart disease and may prevent atrial fibrillation (AFib). Here are some basic heart-healthy tips:

Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
Don't smoke or use tobacco.
Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Reduce and manage stress.

By Mayo Clinic Staff

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Diagnosis & treatment

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