How would the left ventricle change in a person with hypertension?

In hypertension (high blood pressure), the left ventricle undergoes structural and functional changes as it adapts to the increased workload and pressure:

1. Increased Wall Thickness (Hypertrophy): The left ventricle responds to the elevated pressure by thickening its muscular walls, a process called left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). This increased muscle mass helps the heart pump against the higher pressure.

2. Increased Chamber Size (Dilatation): The left ventricle may also enlarge or dilate as it strives to pump more blood with each contraction. Chronic exposure to high blood pressure can lead to the stretching and remodeling of the heart muscle, resulting in a larger ventricular cavity.

3. Reduced Ejection Fraction: The ejection fraction (EF) is a measure of how much blood the heart pumps out with each contraction. In hypertension, the left ventricle may not be able to eject blood as efficiently as a healthy heart, leading to a reduced ejection fraction. This can compromise the overall pumping function of the heart.

4. Impaired Diastolic Function: Hypertension can also affect the left ventricle's ability to relax and fill properly during the diastolic phase of the cardiac cycle. This impaired relaxation can lead to increased pressure within the left ventricle even when it is not contracting, a condition known as diastolic dysfunction.

5. Structural Changes: Hypertension can cause changes in the heart's internal structures, such as thickening of the mitral valve leaflets and enlargement of the left atrium, the chamber that receives blood from the lungs before it flows into the left ventricle.

These changes in the left ventricle are the result of the heart's adaptation to the chronic elevation of blood pressure. However, if hypertension remains uncontrolled, these structural and functional changes can contribute to the development of heart failure and other cardiovascular complications.