What is lvh in cardiology

Because LVH can develop silently over several years without symptoms, it can be difficult to diagnose. However, a routine electrocardiogram or echocardiogram can usually diagnose LVH, even before symptoms become noticeable.

LVH can often be corrected by treating the underlying problem causing the heart to work too hard. Depending on the type of damage that has occurred, treatment measures may include medications and heart-healthy lifestyle changes to help reduce the pressure in the heart.

If LVH is caused by a heart valve problem, surgery may be needed to repair or replace the valve. Visit our Support Network to talk with others and connect with our heart valve ambassadors. We are here to help and encourage you in reaching your treatment goals. Written by American Heart Association editorial staff and reviewed by science and medicine advisers.

See our editorial policies and staff. Heart Valve Disease. About Heart Valves. Left ventricular hypertrophy that is caused by aortic valve stenosis might require surgery to repair the narrow valve or to replace it with an artificial or tissue valve. Treatment of sleep apnea. If you've already been diagnosed with sleep apnea, treating this sleep disorder may lower your blood pressure and help reverse left ventricular hypertrophy if it's caused by high blood pressure.

If you haven't been diagnosed with sleep apnea, but your partner tells you that you snore or that you stop breathing momentarily while you sleep, talk with your doctor about getting tested for sleep apnea. Sleep apnea treatment involves using a machine that provides continuous positive airway pressure CPAP while you sleep.

CPAP keeps your airways open, allowing you to get the oxygen you need to keep your blood pressure at a normal level. Lifestyle changes can help lower your blood pressure, boost your heart health and improve left ventricular hypertrophy signs if caused by high blood pressure.

Your doctor is likely to recommend heart-healthy lifestyle changes, including the following:. In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask other questions during your appointment. Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may leave time to go over points you want to spend more time on.

You may be asked:. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Diagnosis Your doctor will start with a health history, family history and thorough physical examination, including checking your blood pressure and heart function. Electrical signals are recorded as they travel through your heart.

Your doctor can look for patterns that indicate abnormal heart function and increased left ventricle muscle tissue. Sound waves produce live-action images of your heart. Echocardiogram can reveal thickened muscle tissue in the left ventricle, blood flow through the heart with each beat, and heart abnormalities related to left ventricular hypertrophy, such as aortic valve stenosis. Images of your heart can be used to diagnose left ventricular hypertrophy.

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. ECG Reviews Save. The typical pattern with LVH includes deviation of the ST segment in the opposite direction of the QRS complex discordance , and a typical T wave inversion pattern is present, as seen in the image here: Enlarge.

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