What does left ventricular hypertrophy indicate?

Left ventricular hypertrophy indicates thickening of the walls of the left ventricle. This condition often occurs in response to increased workload on the heart, which may result from conditions such as hypertension or aortic stenosis. The left ventricle works harder to overcome the increased pressure, leading to muscle cell enlargement and overall wall thickening as an adaptive mechanism.

This thickening allows the left ventricle to generate more forceful contractions to pump blood effectively. However, while it is an adaptive response, over time, hypertrophy can lead to issues such as diastolic dysfunction, increased myocardial oxygen demand, and a greater risk of arrhythmias, heart failure, or other cardiovascular complications. Understanding this relationship helps in assessing and managing patients with heart-related conditions.