Cardiac hypertrophy is an increase in the size of the heart due to an increase in the amount of work it must perform. The most common cause of cardiac hypertrophy is high blood pressure, but it can also be caused by other factors such as valve disease, certain types of heart attacks, and genetic conditions. Cardiac hypertrophy can lead to heart failure, which is a condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs.
Most people with cardiac hypertrophy do not have any symptoms and do not know they have the condition until it is discovered during a routine physical examination or medical test. However, some people may experience shortness of breath, fatigue, or chest pain. If you have any of these symptoms, you should see your doctor so that he or she can determine whether you have cardiac hypertrophy or another condition.
There are two types of cardiac hypertrophy: concentric and eccentric. Concentric hypertrophy occurs when the walls of the ventricles (the chambers of the heart that pump blood) thicken without an expansion of the chamber size. This type of hypertrophy usually occurs in response to high blood pressure or aortic valve disease. Eccentric hypertrophy occurs when there is an enlargement of the ventricle without a corresponding thickening of the walls. This type oftentimes results from mitral valve disease (a leaky valve between the left atrium and left ventricle).
In most cases, treatment for cardiac hypertrophy involves lifestyle changes such as exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet low in salt and fat, quitting smoking, and managing stress levels. If these measures are not enough to control your condition, your doctor may also prescribe medication such as ACE inhibitors or beta blockers. In some cases where medication does not help or if your condition progresses to heart failure, you may need surgery to repair or replace valves or correct other underlying problems.