Left ventricle of the heart: structure, functions, pathologies. Prevention and treatment of right ventricular hypertrophy The right ventricle is separated from the right atrium

The right ventricle is the chamber of the human heart in which the pulmonary circulation begins. There are four chambers in the heart. Venous blood enters the right ventricle from the right atrium at diastole through the tricuspid valve and is pumped at systole through the pulmonary valve into the pulmonary trunk.

Structure of the right ventricle

The right ventricle is limited from the left by the posterior and anterior interventricular grooves on the surface of the heart. It is separated from the right atrium by the coronary groove. The outer edge of the ventricle has a pointed shape and is called the right edge. The shape of the ventricle resembles an irregular triangular pyramid, with the base directed upward and to the right, and the apex directed to the left and downward.

The posterior wall of the ventricle is flat, and the anterior wall is convex. The inner left wall is the interventricular septum; it has a convex shape (convex towards the right ventricle).

If you look at the right ventricle in a section at the level of the apex of the heart, it looks like a slit elongated in the anteroposterior direction. And if you look at the border of the middle and upper third of the heart, it resembles the shape of a triangle, the base of which is the septum between the ventricles, protruding into the cavity of the right one.

The ventricular cavity has two sections: the posterior one is wide and the anterior one is narrower. The anterior section is called the conus arteriosus; it has an opening through which it connects to the pulmonary trunk. The posterior section communicates with the right atrium through the right atrioventricular orifice.

On the inner surface of the posterior section there are many muscle crossbars, forming a dense network.

The right atrioventricular valve is attached around the circumference of the atrioventricular orifice, which prevents the reverse flow of blood from the ventricle into the area of the right atrium.

The valve is formed by three triangular valves: anterior, posterior and septal. All valves protrude with their free edges into the ventricular cavity.

The septal leaflet is located closer to the ventricular septum and is attached to the medial part of the atrioventricular orifice. The anterior leaflet is attached to the anterior part of the medial foramen and faces the conus arteriosus. The posterior valve is attached to the posterolateral part of the medial foramen. Often a small additional tooth can be seen between the posterior and septal valves.

The opening of the pulmonary trunk is located on the left and in front and leads into the pulmonary trunk. Along the edges of the hole you can see three shutters: front, left and right. Their free edges protrude into the pulmonary trunk and together they form the pulmonary valve.

Diseases associated with the right ventricle

The most common diseases of the right ventricle are:

Pulmonary stenosis;
Right ventricular hypertrophy;
Right ventricular infarction;
Right ventricular block.

Pulmonary stenosis

Stenosis is an isolated narrowing of the pulmonary artery. The narrowing of the exit to the pulmonary artery can be located at various levels:

Subvalvular pulmonary artery stenosis is formed as a result of the proliferation of fibrous and muscle tissue in the infundibular portion of the ventricle.
Stenosis of the fibrous ring is formed at the junction of the right ventricular myocardium into the pulmonary trunk.
Isolated valvular stenosis is the most common heart pathology (about 9% of congenital heart defects). With this defect, the pulmonary valve is a diaphragm with a hole with a diameter of 2 to 10 mm. The division into valves is often absent, the commissures are smoothed.

With pulmonary stenosis, the pressure in the right ventricle increases, which increases the load on it. As a result, this leads to enlargement of the right ventricle.

Right ventricular hypertrophy

In fact, right ventricular hypertrophy is not a disease, rather it is a syndrome that indicates enlargement of the myocardium and causes a number of serious diseases.

The enlargement of the right ventricle is associated with the growth of cardiomitocytes. As a rule, this condition is a pathology and is combined with other cardiovascular diseases.

Enlargement of the right ventricle is quite rare and is often diagnosed in patients with diseases such as pneumonia and chronic bronchitis, pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema, pneumosclerosis, and bronchial asthma. As mentioned above, right ventricular hypertrophy can be caused by stenosis or congenital heart disease.

The mass of the right ventricle in a normal state is approximately three times less than the mass of the left. This is precisely what accounts for the predominance of electrical activity of the left ventricle in a healthy heart. Against this background, right ventricular hypertrophy is much more difficult to detect on an electrocardiogram.

Based on the degree of enlargement of the right ventricle, the following types of hypertrophy are distinguished:

Severe hypertrophy – when the mass of the right ventricle exceeds the left;
Moderate hypertrophy - the left ventricle is larger than the right, but in the right there are excitation processes associated with its increase;
Moderate hypertrophy - the left ventricle is significantly larger in mass than the right, although the right one is slightly enlarged.

Right ventricular infarction

Approximately 30% of patients with inferior infarction have some degree of right ventricular involvement. Isolated right ventricular infarction occurs much less frequently. Often, an extensive infarction leads to severe right ventricular failure, in which Kussmaul's symptom, swelling of the jugular veins, and hepatomegaly are observed. Arterial hypotension is possible. On the first day, ST segment elevation is often observed in additional chest leads.

The extent of right ventricular damage can be determined using an echocardiogram.

Right ventricular block

Right ventricular block occurs in approximately 0.6-0.4% of healthy people. The prognosis of this disease depends on heart disease. For example, with an isolated blockade, the prognosis is quite favorable, since there is no tendency to develop coronary heart disease.

Right ventricular block may develop as a result of pulmonary embolism or anterior infarction. If the blockage occurs as a result of a heart attack, the prognosis is negative, since heart failure and sudden death often occur in the first months.

Blockage resulting from pulmonary embolism is usually transient and occurs primarily in patients with severe pulmonary artery disease.

Content

The heart is the main human organ. If one of its four parts begins to malfunction, the entire body malfunctions. Right-sided ventricular hypertrophy is one of the pathological conditions that is associated with myocardial enlargement. This defect indicates the development of serious complications in the functioning of the lungs and heart.

Right ventricular hypertrophy of the heart - what is it?

Parts of the heart can enlarge for various reasons. According to the medical definition, right ventricular hypertrophy is an enlargement of the myocardium or thickening of the walls of blood vessels. A change in size indicates abnormal growth of heart cells (cardiomyocytes). The difference between hypertrophied myocardium is that the vessels cannot nourish the overgrown organ. For this reason, part of it experiences ischemia - a lack of oxygen and nutrients. Dilatation of the right ventricle is one of the types of the disease.

There are 3 degrees of hypertrophy:

Moderate – the increase is insignificant. It has the same dimensions as the left one.
Medium – processes in this area of the heart proceed more slowly.
Pronounced - the right part is 2-3 times larger than the similar left one.

Right ventricular hypertrophy - causes

The most common causes of right ventricular hypertrophy are concomitant diseases of the heart and lungs. They can be congenital or acquired. Congenital disorders are called:

Tetralogy of Fallot. Valve defect, which is diagnosed in newborns. Another name is “blue baby syndrome”: the baby’s skin turns bluish while crying.
Pulmonary hypertension. Causes increased pulmonary artery pressure.
Anomaly in the structure of the interventricular septum. Leads to mixing of the blood of the heart, the body receives insufficient oxygen.
Mitral valve stenosis. Causes disruption of blood flow into the artery due to a decrease in the opening.

Diseases that cause hypertrophy of the right ventricular myocardium include:

fibrosis, emphysema;
bronchitis;
bronchial asthma;
pneumonia;
chronic fatigue and stress;
weight gain;
cardiomyopathy;
high blood pressure.

Right ventricular hypertrophy in a child

Enlargement of the right ventricle of the heart is observed more in childhood. In infants, immediately after birth, the load on the right side of the heart is greater than on the left. Doctors call this reason for the change in the organ physiological. However, congenital right ventricular hypertrophy is much more common in children. Some symptoms of the disease do not appear immediately. Constant monitoring of the child's condition and a complete examination after birth help to make the correct diagnosis and choose accurate treatment methods.

Signs of right ventricular hypertrophy on the ECG

The first symptoms of the disease are insignificant; often the patient does not notice them. When the myocardium grows, signs appear as:

dizziness;
shortness of breath;
loss of consciousness;
difficulty breathing;
arrhythmias;
chest pain;
shortness of breath;
leg outflows;
bluish skin;
interruptions in heartbeat.

This occurs because the heart is not sufficiently supplied with oxygen, symptoms similar to heart failure. The doctor must prescribe diagnostics using modern devices in order to determine the final diagnosis:

Electrocardiography involves heart rhythms being transmitted through sensors and recorded on paper. On an ECG, signs of right ventricular hypertrophy can be correctly deciphered by a general practitioner or cardiologist.
Ultrasound of the heart, or echocardiography, accurately detects changes in the structure of the heart. The method helps to detect blood flow disorders and measure the degree of pathology.

Hypertrophy of the right ventricle of the heart is visible on the ECG if its mass has become larger than the left. Looks like fluctuations in electrocardiogram peaks. Main features:

The electrical axis is tilted to the right.
Ischemia of the subendocardial layers of the myocardium is observed.
Part V1 shows abnormalities in the QRS complex. Then it looks like an R or QR wave.
In area V6 the complex has the appearance of RS.
In the V1 region there are abnormalities in the ST segment. It is located below the isoline and has an asymmetrical shape.

Right ventricular hypertrophy - treatment

Treatment of right ventricular hypertrophy should include complex therapy to eliminate concomitant diseases. The doctor prescribes medications that help normalize the functioning of the heart and lungs:

vitamins with magnesium and potassium;
blockers that reduce heart rate;
diuretics that remove water;
anticoagulants;
calcium channel antagonists responsible for heart rate;
medications that lower blood pressure;
sedatives.

For prevention, a special diet is prescribed. The patient should exclude foods high in salt, add lean meat, fish, fruits, and vegetables. Surgery is used only when the enlargement results in a heart defect. In young children, this operation can be performed as early as the first year of life.

Video: cardiac hypertrophy on ECG

Attention! The information presented in the article is for informational purposes only. The materials in the article do not encourage self-treatment. Only a qualified doctor can make a diagnosis and give treatment recommendations based on the individual characteristics of a particular patient.

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Right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) is a disorder in which the walls and weight of the myocardium of a certain part of the heart increase. ICD-10 code – I51 (complications and ill-defined heart diseases). This is a rather complex anomaly, which is accompanied by unpleasant symptoms. That is why it is so important to consult a qualified doctor in a timely manner. If hypertrophy occurs in the area of the right ventricle of the heart, you need to know why it is dangerous, what its symptoms are and how to treat the disease.

The classification of pathology is based on the characteristics of the clinical course of the disease. Cardiologists distinguish several types of hypertrophy:

Sharply expressed - in this situation, the mass of the right ventricle greatly exceeds this parameter in the element that begins the systemic circulation.
Classic - characterized by an increase in the size of the right ventricle, but its mass is inferior to that of the left side. Excitation in this zone has a longer duration.
Moderate - accompanied by a slight external enlargement of the right ventricle, but its weight is less when compared with the left.

Taking into account the time of onset of symptoms of pathology, hypertrophy can be congenital or acquired. The first form of the anomaly is detected in newborn infants. It can also be diagnosed during pregnancy. Various diseases lead to the acquired form of right ventricular hypertrophy.

Causes

Hypertrophy of the right ventricular myocardium is a consequence of a number of factors. They can be cardiogenic or non-cardiogenic. The main reasons include the following:

Features of the disorder in children

As the baby grows, the load on the heart increases. If there are problems with blood circulation, there is a risk of an increase in the mass of the right ventricle.

With prolonged presence of hypertrophy, secondary damage to the pulmonary vessels is observed. They become more rigid and lose their elasticity. This provokes a worsening of the symptoms of the disease.

Hypertrophy of the right ventricle of the heart in a child occurs under the influence of the following factors:

Signs of the disease may not appear immediately, but only after some time. Therefore, if there are any symptoms of a disorder in the structure of the myocardium, an ultrasound examination should be performed after birth. In children, this anomaly is much more common.

Clinical picture

Signs of right ventricular hypertrophy resemble those of other anomalies. Initially, the disease develops asymptomatically and manifests itself only with a significant increase in the weight and size of the ventricle.

Characteristic manifestations of the anomaly include the following:

Clinical symptoms of hypertrophic changes are an increase in heart rate. The disorder is also accompanied by a sudden drop in blood pressure.

This form of pathology is characterized by cor pulmonale. Its occurrence is caused by pulmonary embolism. This anomaly is accompanied by acute right ventricular failure, the sudden onset of shortness of breath, a drop in pressure, and symptoms of tachycardia. Often this violation leads to death.

Chronic cor pulmonale has similar symptoms as the acute form of the disease, until the process of decompensation is observed. In complex cases of the disease, chronic pulmonary obstruction appears.

Diagnostics

To make an accurate diagnosis, a whole range of studies should be carried out. These include the following:

Treatment of prostate cancer

The key goal of therapy is aimed at normalizing the size of the heart, in particular its right ventricle. With the development of hypertrophy, the treatment regimen includes the following components:

the use of medications - helps to cope with stenosis, normalize lung function, eliminate heart defects;
nutrition correction;
normalization of lifestyle.

Important: Treatment must be carried out under the strict supervision of a doctor. During therapy, it is imperative to evaluate cardiac function and determine the contraction frequency.

Drug treatment

With the development of hypertrophic changes in the right ventricle, the following categories of medications can be used:

– they should be applied systematically;
beta blockers;
preparations containing potassium and magnesium;
calcium channel antagonists;
anticoagulants;
cardiac glycosides - this category of drugs is taken in minimal quantities.

In addition, other drugs may be used. Quite often, the use of drugs to improve lung function and eliminate pulmonary valve stenosis is required.

Taking into account the cause of the disease, the following drugs can be used:

In some situations, you may have to take these medications for the rest of your life. If there are no favorable changes, there is a need for surgical intervention. It involves the use of an artificial valve.

Athletes and people leading an active lifestyle should regularly visit a cardiologist. The same applies to overweight patients.

Folk recipes

Only in addition to standard therapy can certain folk remedies be used. Before starting to use such recipes, you should definitely consult your doctor.

Infusions and decoctions of medicinal plants are highly effective. You can also use some food products.

To improve the condition of hypertrophic changes that have occurred in the right ventricle, you should use the following recipes:

Possible consequences

If the pathology is not treated in time, it will lead to dangerous health consequences. One of the most serious complications is cor pulmonale. It is characterized by the following signs:

If a thromboembolism occurs, the person will experience symptoms of shock within just a couple of minutes. They are accompanied by severe pulmonary edema.

In such a situation, a large amount of transudate from the capillaries enters the lungs. This causes severe shortness of breath and chest tightness. Then suffocation, blue skin, and coughing occur. In approximately 30% of cases, the anomaly is fatal.

Forecast

The prognosis of the pathology depends on the timeliness of detection and the adequacy of the therapy. If the disease was diagnosed at an early stage of development, it is quite treatable. Otherwise, the violation leads to irreversible changes in the heart.

As for military service, everything depends on the presence of concomitant pathologies. If hypertrophy is accompanied by arterial hypertension, the conscript may be exempt from military service.

Prevention

To prevent the appearance of hypertrophic processes in the right ventricle, it is necessary to engage in the prevention of pulmonary pathologies:

avoid drafts;
eliminate smoking;
do not overcool;
apply oxygen therapy;
exercise;
promptly treat viral infections of the respiratory organs.

Hypertrophic damage to the right ventricle often provokes negative health consequences. To minimize the risk of dangerous complications, it is necessary to contact a cardiologist in a timely manner and strictly adhere to his recommendations.

Still have questions? Ask them in the comments! A cardiologist will answer them.

Right ventricular hypertrophy is a condition in which the wall thickness and mass of this part of the heart increases. In this case, a disruption of the circulatory process occurs, which is manifested by certain symptoms and disruptions in the functioning of various organs. On the ECG, signs of right ventricular hypertrophy are clearly visible, but only a specialist can correctly determine and decipher the data obtained. Let's consider the main causes of right ventricular hypertrophy, its signs, possible complications and treatment methods.

What is a disease

As already mentioned, with this disease the mass and thickness of the walls of the right ventricle increases. This phenomenon is an impetus for the development of more dangerous pathologies. After all, the pulmonary circulation begins from this section, which means that the saturation of the body with blood depends on how the ventricle works.

Right ventricular hypertrophy is a fairly rare disease. It occurs mainly in children and in people who abuse alcoholic beverages (especially strong drinks) and in smokers. Often people who have excessive physical activity also suffer from these diseases. Doctors distinguish between moderate, moderate and severe degrees of hypertrophy. All of them differ in the degree of severity of the increase in the size of the ventricle.

Causes of hypertrophy

The main reason why a person develops right ventricular myocardial hypertrophy is the high load on it. This occurs if blood pressure in the pulmonary circulation remains high for a long time. It is also possible for blood to be released into the right ventricle with some heart defects. And in this case, hypertrophy often occurs.

Right ventricular hypertrophy in a child often develops as a result of congenital heart defects. In particular, a fairly common cause of the development of this pathology is a defect in the septum between the ventricles. From the left ventricle, the blood flows partially into the aorta, and then through this septum into the right ventricle. In this case, there is an increased load on it. Other heart defects in which signs of hypertrophy are visible on the ECG are as follows:

insufficient development of the pulmonary valve;
other conditions associated with septal pathologies.

It is worth noting that children cannot independently inform their parents and doctor about what exactly is bothering them. That is why only a cardiogram can tell you that a child suffers from right ventricular hypertrophy.

shortness of breath that appears even after minor physical activity or at rest;
severe dry cough;
dizziness and frequent fainting;
a feeling of rapid heartbeat, sometimes at rest;
discharge of blood with sputum;
various types of heart rhythm disturbances;
pain behind the sternum, associated primarily with hypoxia of the heart muscle (they are relieved by nitroglycerin).

Symptoms of heart failure are:

heaviness arising in the area of the right hypochondrium;
the appearance of a pattern of dilated veins on the skin, especially in the abdomen;
swelling of the legs.

In children, the manifestation of congenital heart defects may be accompanied by the following symptoms:

blue skin;
severe shortness of breath;
rapid heartbeat;
heart rhythm disturbance;
retardation in physical development.

There are also electrocardiographic signs of hypertrophy:

increase in P-amplitude and its duration;
The P wave has a pronounced sharp shape;
the height of such a tooth is sharply increased;
the tooth has a symmetrical shape;
pathological changes are visible in the second and third leads;
the axis of the P wave moves to the right side.

It is unlikely that you will be able to read such a cardiogram on your own. When making a diagnosis, the doctor must take into account all leads. Based on the obtained electrocardiographic data, the specialist can indicate the development of right ventricular hypertrophy in a person.

Complications of hypertrophy

In the later stages of the development of this disease, signs of the so-called cor pulmonale appear. The main symptoms are:

the appearance of severe and sudden pain in the chest area;
a sharp decrease in pressure (up to the development of signs of a collaptoid state);
swelling of the neck veins;
a progressive increase in the size of the liver (this process is accompanied by pain in the right hypochondrium);
severe psychomotor agitation;
the appearance of a sharp and pathological pulsation.

In the case of pulmonary embolism, a person quickly, literally within a few minutes, develops signs of shock with severe pulmonary edema. With pulmonary edema, a massive release of transudate into the lung tissue from the capillary area appears. Severe shortness of breath develops at rest, and the person feels tightness in the chest. Later, suffocation and cyanosis occur, followed by a cough. Sudden death can occur in one third of all cases of pulmonary embolism.

When compensated, as the main consequence of right ventricular hypertrophy, the symptoms of the main disorder are not sharply expressed. Some patients may notice a slight pulsation in the upper abdomen.

But in the stage of decompensation, signs of left ventricular failure gradually develop. The manifestation of such decompensation is severe shortness of breath, which does not subside even at rest. It intensifies if a person changes body position, especially lying down. Other symptoms indicate that a person is developing so-called congestive heart failure.

Diagnosis of the disease

An accurate diagnosis can be made only after carrying out the entire range of diagnostic measures. Only after this can treatment begin. Diagnostics is as follows:

Medical examination. Without it, no examination can be started. As a rule, it is a thorough medical examination that can suggest that a person is developing hypertrophy. Usually, a cardiologist with experience in working with and diagnosing such patients can easily hear pathological murmurs in the heart area by simple auscultation.
Cardiography. Right ventricular hypertrophy on the ECG is noticeable by numerous specific changes. However, on the ECG, the doctor sees only a rhythm disturbance, but not an increase in the size of the ventricle. Accordingly, the latter can cause numerous disruptions in heart rhythm.
A thorough analysis of the anamnesis and collection of complaints may suggest the development of this hypertrophy.
Echocardiography is a study of the heart using ultrasound. This type of diagnosis helps the specialist determine the thickness of the ventricular wall and other parameters of the myocardium. In addition, echocardiography can accurately determine the pressure in the ventricle, which, in turn, makes it possible to diagnose the disease.
Examination of the heart using a cardiovisor.
Determination of unfavorable hereditary predisposition to the disease.

Those who smoke, regularly drink alcohol, or do not monitor the intensity of physical activity should be periodically checked by a doctor.

The main principles of treating the disease

The principles of treatment depend on whether the patient has an underlying disease. Most often these are patients with a history of chronic pulmonary pathologies.

In the case of a congenital heart defect detected in a person, doctors use so-called etiotropic treatment. It is aimed at eliminating or significantly weakening the effect of the main pathological factor. Pathogenetic treatment is used in cases where right ventricular hypertrophy is acquired.

If pancreatic hypertrophy is caused by congenital heart defects, then the child is prescribed surgical treatment. Modern medical technologies make it possible to perform such operations on children under one year of age, and most of them are successful for the little patient.

It is very important to correct blood pressure in order to bring it back to normal as much as possible. In case of pulmonary pathologies, their treatment is necessary in order to prevent the so-called decompensated pulmonary failure. Bronchodilators are indicated (only after a thorough diagnosis, otherwise they can provoke complications).

In mild cases, the doctor prescribes the following drugs:

nifedipine;
nitroglycerine;
nitrosorbide.

Prevention comes down to the following:

early diagnosis of cardiovascular pathologies;
prevention of physical inactivity;
refusal to drink alcohol and smoke (even harmful for the patient);
careful adherence to all medical recommendations;
the use of so-called oxygen cocktails;
Spa treatment.

Right ventricular hypertrophy requires special attention from the patient and physician. If you suspect you have such a disease, do not hesitate to visit a specialist. Indeed, in the early stages of the development of the disease it is much easier to help a person. The prognosis of the disease depends on how early a person goes to the doctor: it worsens with the development of pulmonary embolism.

Right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) is a condition in which there is an increase in the thickness of the walls and mass of the myocardium of one of the parts of the heart, namely the right ventricle. Venous blood from large venous trunks enters the right atrium, and from there into the right ventricle. They are separated from each other by a tricuspid valve. When the right ventricle contracts, venous blood enters the pulmonary artery and is enriched with oxygen in the lungs. It then enters the left side of the heart. In various pathological conditions, the right ventricle expands (dilatation) and the mass of its walls increases (hypertrophy).

It is important to know the symptoms of right ventricular hypertrophy and the causes of the disease in order to consult a doctor in time to prescribe adequate treatment.

Mechanisms of development of prostate cancer:

thickening of cardiac muscle fibers;
increased blood pressure in the cavity of the right ventricle;
lack of oxygen (hypoxia);
metabolic and structural changes in the myocardium;
changes in the anatomy of the ventricles of the heart.

Reasons for development

The main reason for the development of prostate cancer is excessive load on it. It appears when blood pressure increases in the pulmonary circulation (pulmonary artery and its branches, pulmonary capillaries, pulmonary veins), as well as when blood is discharged into the right ventricle in some congenital heart defects.

In children, the development of prostate cancer is primarily associated with. RVH develops with a significant ventricular septal defect. This is a congenital heart defect in which blood from the left ventricle, during its contractions, is partially ejected not into the aorta, but through a hole in the interventricular septum into the right ventricle. As a result, it is forced to pump significantly larger volumes of blood than it should. At the same time, thickening of its walls develops. Other congenital heart defects that lead to the development of RVH are atrial septal defect, pulmonary valve insufficiency, tetralogy of Fallot, and other conditions that cause overload of the right ventricle with blood volume or pressure in the pulmonary artery system.

In adults, the main cause of prostate cancer is the so-called cor pulmonale. Cor pulmonale occurs when diseases interfere with normal breathing. As a result, the pressure in the pulmonary artery increases, the right ventricle experiences overload and enlarges. Causes of pulmonary hypertension and cor pulmonale:

lung diseases (pulmonary emphysema, bronchiectasis, and others);
chest diseases (, and others);
diseases of the pulmonary vessels (thrombosis and embolism, arteritis, compression of blood vessels by a mediastinal tumor and others).

RVH in adults sometimes occurs as a result of mitral valve stenosis. With this disease, the function of the left ventricle is impaired, then the pressure in the pulmonary vessels increases and the right ventricle is secondarily affected. Tricuspid valve insufficiency also leads to the development of RVH. With this defect, part of the blood from the right ventricle, when it contracts, does not enter the pulmonary artery, but back into the right atrium, and again into the right ventricle. It is forced to pump a large volume of blood and as a result it increases.

Symptoms

GPH itself does not cause any complaints. Only its causes (pulmonary hypertension) and complications (heart failure) are clinically manifested.

Signs of pulmonary hypertension:

with little physical activity and at rest, dry cough;
weakness, apathy, and fainting;
, swelling of the neck veins;
hemoptysis;
anginal pain associated with oxygen starvation of the myocardium (pressing, squeezing pain behind the sternum during exercise, often accompanied by cold sweat, which goes away after taking nitroglycerin).

Signs of heart failure caused by decreased contractility of an enlarged right ventricle:

heaviness in the right hypochondrium;
the appearance of dilated veins on the skin of the abdomen;
swelling of the legs and anterior abdominal wall.

Congenital heart defects in children may be accompanied by cyanosis (blue discoloration) of the skin, shortness of breath and rapid heartbeat, heart rhythm disturbances, and retarded growth and development.

Diagnostics

Methods for diagnosing BPH:

electrocardiography: does not always detect RVH, especially at an early stage;
, or ultrasound examination of the heart: the most informative method;
Chest X-ray: may provide additional diagnostic information for cor pulmonale.

Treatment

GPH itself cannot be treated. The diseases that caused it are being treated. Non-drug treatment methods include:

Avoid heavy physical activity and sports, especially with severe prostate cancer.
Complete rest and sleep.
Prevention of exacerbations of chronic lung diseases.
High altitude conditions are not recommended.

Pulmonary hypertension and chronic cor pulmonale often require chronic use of calcium antagonists (nifedipine), prostaglandins and inhaled nitric oxide.

Heart defects in children and adults are corrected through surgery.

Circulatory failure is treated according to appropriate protocols.

Which doctor should I contact?

If an electrocardiogram or other heart study reveals right ventricular hypertrophy, consult a physician or cardiologist. After additional examination, the doctor will prescribe treatment for the reasons that caused this condition. It is likely that you will need to consult a cardiac surgeon, an orthopedist (for spinal curvature), and a pulmonologist (for cor pulmonale).