BP Basics
Left Ventricular Hypertrophy: A By-Product Of Hypertension
A person with high blood pressure or hypertension is by
no means safe from the danger of its concomitant complications. High
blood pressure can damage your heart, kidneys, eyes, bones, brain and
even make you lose your sexual drive. Therefore, it is extremely
essential to keep blood pressure under control.
Another disease that hypertension can cause is Left Ventricular
Hypertrophy (LVH). This is a condition wherein the wall of the major
pumping chamber of the heart becomes thickened and too shortened. This
happens because of the extra work that your heart is forced to do. All
this extra work limits the ability of the heart to pump blood and
ultimately damages the normal functioning of the heart.
This
condition increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes, sudden death,
and even heart failure. In addition to all these complications, it can
also lead to swelling in body tissues and the development of congestive
heart failure.
Symptoms of LVH:
LVH generally produces
almost no symptoms. But when it reaches the advanced stage, it may show
the following symptoms:
1) Kidney malfunction or failure
2) Mental confusion
3) Angina
4) Swelling (edema) of the legs
5) Swollen neck veins
6) Shortness of breath
7) Abdominal discomfort like pain, nausea and swelling
8) Galloping heartbeat
Diagnosis of LVH:
It is generally diagnosed on the basis of
your medical history, physical examination, an electrocardiogram (EKG)
and a chest x-ray. Once the condition is diagnosed, it can be treated by
controlling blood pressure naturally or medically with the help of
medications such as beta blockers, diuretics, ACE inhibitors, and
calcium channel blockers.
But, all said and done, you cannot deny
the fact that 'Prevention is better than cure'.