Diseases and Conditions

Left ventricular hypertrophy

Overview

Left ventricular hypertrophy is enlargement and thickening (hypertrophy) of the walls of your heart's main pumping chamber (left ventricle). The thickened heart wall loses elasticity, leading to increased pressure to allow the heart to fill its pumping chamber to send blood to the rest of the body. Eventually, the heart may fail to pump with as much force as needed.

Left ventricular hypertrophy is more common in people who have uncontrolled high blood pressure. But no matter what your blood pressure is, developing left ventricular hypertrophy puts you at higher risk of congestive heart failure and irregular heart rhythms.

If left ventricular hypertrophy is caused by high blood pressure, treating high blood pressure can help ease your symptoms and may reverse left ventricular hypertrophy.