What Are Risks of Enlarged Heart Ventricles?

The heart acts as one of the most important organs in the body to sustain life. Therefore, any abnormalities within the heart pose great risks to anyone. An enlarged ventricle is one abnormality that can be serious and fatal.

Identification

• When the ventricles of the heart become enlarged, blood flow is obstructed. A condition in which the left ventricle enlarges is called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Types

• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy occurs in two forms: hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy and non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In the first one, the wall between the ventricles, called the septum, becomes enlarged and blocks blood flow. The second form does not obstruct blood flow.

Further Damage

• An enlarged ventricle can also disfigure other parts of the heart, such as the mitral valve, and cause leakage.

Risk Factors

• One out of every 500 people are at risk for developing hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, especially those with close blood relatives with the disease. According to the American Heart Association, it is the most commonly inherited heart defect.

Effects

• People with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy often experience shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting and chest pains. Some may also have abnormal heart rhythms that can lead to sudden death if not treated.