Hypertrophy is a heart ailment that could occur in either ventricle of the heart. Consequently, right ventricular hypertrophy is the enlargement of heart’s right ventricle. And more often than not, this condition is attributed to pulmonary hypertension.
Right ventricular hypertrophy, or simply RVH, is considered to be one of the rare diseases of the heart. Unlike the left ventricle, which tends to overwork itself when it detects abnormalities, the right ventricle dilutes itself. This is the reason why left ventricular hypertrophy is way more common than right ventricular hypertrophy.
Causes of Right Ventricular Hypertrophy
There are four usual causes of right ventricular hypertrophy. The first one is pulmonary hypertension. As stated earlier, pulmonary hypertension is a condition wherein the blood pressure increases in the pulmonary artery. And this can lead to shortness of breath, dizziness and fainting.
The second common cause is the tetralogy of Fallot. This is one type of congenital heart disease and is the very one that causes the blue baby syndrome. It appears during birth and extends into the first year from the baby’s birth.
The third cause is pulmonary valve stenosis. Pulmonary valve stenosis causes abnormality in the flow of the blood from the right ventricle going into the pulmonic valve. The end result is a reduced amount of blood going to the lungs.
The last common cause of right ventricular hypertrophy is the ventricular septal defect. This is a disease affecting the ventricular septum. The ventricular septum, on the other hand, is the wall that divides the right and left ventricles of the heart.
Symptoms of Right Ventricular Hypertrophy
Mild degrees of right ventricular hypertrophy won’t show any symptom at all. But in its more severe form, patients will experience shortness of breath coupled with chest pains and pressures. Palpitations, or the unusual sensation that the heart is beating rapidly and forcefully, is also felt. It is even possible that the heart skipped some beats or did additional beats while at it.
Dizziness and the eventual loss of consciousness are also expected. Feeling lightheaded from time to time is actually common to people with right ventricular hypertrophy. And aside from all of these, there could also be noticeable swelling in the lower extremities such as the legs, feet, and ankles.
Diagnosis of Right Ventricular Hypertrophy
To diagnose this disease, several procedures are performed. The mere physical examination done by a doctor is enough to detect if the right part of the heart is enlarged. The heart, if not working correctly, produces sounds detectable by the doctor’s stethoscope, which is the device used when conducting the physical examination.
Some doctors may also find the medical history of the patient essential to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. Proofs have been compiled showing that this disease could be inherited. A family history of any heart disease puts a person in a higher risk of developing this disease.
An x-ray of the chest may also be requested because it can show how enlarged the heart has become. An electrocardiogram will also do the same job, only more accurate, it through the waveforms it produces. One or two ECG exams can accurately diagnose a right ventricular hypertrophy.
But the best way to detect this disease is through the use of an echocardiogram. This test employs the use of an ultrasound, very similar to what is used with pregnant women. Only in this case, it is directed to heart. It is better in such a way it can a precise measurement of the thickness and size of the heart muscles.
Treatment of Right Ventricular Hypertrophy
The doctors of the patients with right ventricular hypertrophy addresses all the underlying causes of the disease to eventually treat it. The list of causes includes hypertension, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, hemochromatosis, and pulmonary blood clots, to name a few. Doing so will reduce the damage caused to the heart.
Drugs like beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, diuretics, and digoxin may be prescribed. But if drugs can’t treat it, there might be a need to implant a cardioverter defibrillator or a pacemaker in the patient. Which one to put depends upon what his symptoms are. An open-heart surgery may also be performed and the last resort for patients with this disease will be heart transplant.
Source: downloadheart.us