Heart Muscle Thickening
Although it is not well known among the public, it is a very serious and important problem. It is defined as an increase in heart muscle mass or an increase in its thickness due to the accumulation of other tissues and substances within the heart muscle.
What is heart muscle thickening?
Although it is not well known among the public, it is a very serious and important problem. It is defined as an increase in heart muscle mass or an increase in its thickness due to the accumulation of other tissues and substances within the heart muscle. The biggest cause of this disease, which leads to heart failure, is hypertension.
What causes heart muscle thickening?
Heart muscles contract due to increased pressure in the arteries, and therefore the disease is most common in hypertension patients. Muscle cells working against high pressure grow and thicken. However, heart valve diseases can also cause thickening of the heart muscle. While thickening causes deterioration in the structure of the heart muscle cells, problems also occur in blood circulation. Thus, a structural disease in the heart begins.
What are the symptoms of heart muscle thickening?
Rhythm disorders and palpitations may occur due to deterioration of the structure of the heart muscle. Some of these rhythm disorders are of vital importance. In fact, in some arrhythmias, a clot forms within the heart and when it throbs, a stroke may occur. As the disease progresses, heart muscle cells begin to die, in which case the thickness decreases, but there is a contraction disorder in the heart muscle; The heart cannot pump enough blood. Fatigue quickly, shortness of breath, and swelling in the feet begin. This condition is called congestive heart failure. In the early stages of heart muscle thickening, there may be no symptoms.
Who is at risk for heart muscle thickening?
Hypertension patients and people with heart valve disorders are in the risk group.
How to prevent heart muscle thickening?
Preventing hypertension generally means avoiding thickening of the heart muscle. Initiatives that reduce the possibility of hypertension, such as regular health check-ups, early recognition of hypertension and early initiation of treatment, having an ideal body weight, reducing salt consumption, and staying away from smoking are also of great importance in preventing hypertension.