Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a condition where the muscular wall of the heart's left ventricle thickens beyond its normal size. This often occurs in response to increased workload, such as high blood pressure or certain heart conditions, making the heart work harder to pump blood. While the thickened heart muscle can initially improve strength, over time it may reduce the heart's efficiency, lead to stiffening, or cause other complications like arrhythmias. Diagnosis typically involves imaging tests like an echocardiogram, and managing underlying causes can help prevent or reduce hypertrophy.