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ow high blood pressure quietly changes the structure of your heart? Understand cardiac hyperplasia under "pressure load"
High blood pressure is known as the "silent killer". Its impact on the body often occurs without us being aware of it, and its impact on the heart is particularly profound. The left and right ventricles of the heart will grow or thicken when the pressure load increases, a phenomenon called ventricular hypertrophy (VH). Understanding this process is critical to preventing and treating heart disease caused by high blood pressure.
Ventricular hypertrophy is an adaptive change of the heart. Excessive pressure causes changes in the structure and function of the heart.
Types of ventricular hypertrophy
Ventricular hypertrophy can be divided into two categories: concentric hypertrophy and eccentric hypertrophy. Concentric hypertrophy is caused by pressure overload and is often closely related to factors such as high blood pressure and valvular heart disease. Eccentric hypertrophy, on the other hand, is caused by volume overload, usually occurs in athletes or pregnant women, and has relatively little impact on the heart.
Concentric hypertrophy results in an increase in myocardial thickness, but the size of the ventricular cavity remains unchanged, whereas eccentric hypertrophy results in dilation of the ventricular cavity.
Cardiac adaptation under pressure load
When the heart faces pressure overload, such as in the case of high blood pressure, the muscle fibers (cardiomyocytes) in the heart muscle undergo adaptive growth to be able to withstand higher blood pressure. Although this reaction initially helps improve the function of the heart, over time it may lead to irreversible changes in the structure of the heart and may lead to heart failure. Research shows that pressure load causes structural changes in the heart, including changes in the heart's electrical activity and hemodynamics.
Symptoms of ventricular hypertrophy
Symptoms of ventricular hypertrophy may vary from person to person. In eccentric hypertrophy, patients may have no obvious symptoms because this hypertrophy is a normal physiological response, but in concentric hypertrophy, patients may experience uncomfortable symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, and palpitations. Unexpected heart failure may occur due to an impairment of the heart's pumping function.
If the load on the ventricles continues to increase, it will eventually lead to the inability of the heart to pump blood effectively, further leading to heart failure.
Decryption of physiological mechanisms
Structural changes in the ventricles and related physiological mechanisms are an important background that must be understood in some cardiac pathological conditions. When the heart faces stress such as high blood pressure, adjustments within the heart muscle can affect the overall function of the heart. In this condition, the heart may gradually become stiffer, which affects its ability to relax and fill with blood. As a result, this can lead to significant enlargement of the heart's ventricular cavities, creating a condition of diastolic dysfunction or heart failure.
Detection methods of cardiac hypertrophy
There are several ways to detect ventricular hypertrophy, including electrocardiography (EKG) and echocardiography. An electrocardiogram is a non-invasive method of monitoring the heart's electrical system and can provide an indication of the degree of ventricular hypertrophy and subsequent cardiac dysfunction that may result. In addition, echocardiography can also use different indicators to evaluate structural changes in the heart, check ventricular wall thickness, and whether there are abnormalities in mitral valve motion, etc.
Compared with other tests, ECG changes are relatively common in patients with ventricular hypertrophy. The function of the heart is gradually affected, which requires early management.
Future research directions
With the deepening of research on ventricular hypertrophy, scientists continue to explore how to use drug treatment to reduce the effects of ventricular hypertrophy, especially under the influence of hormones such as steroids. Inhibitors of the hypertrophic response such as finasteride have caused widespread concern. focus on. With the advancement of technology, computer biomechanical models will be better applied in the future to predict the progression of hypertrophy and develop targeted treatment options for pathological hypertrophy.
Summary
Ventricular hypertrophy is a health problem closely related to high blood pressure and is often an adaptive response of the heart to stress. However, long-term stress loading may gradually worsen the heart. Any critical changes can leave a profound imprint on future health. Faced with this situation, we should think about: Do you understand your heart health and take actions to prevent potential risks?
