Left Ventricular Dysfunction

Left Ventricular Dysfunction General Information

In this chapter we intend to familiarize you with a set of specific information regarding the main characteristics of this medical condition that is known to affect the patient’s heart. Medical dictionaries define Left Ventricular Dysfunction as a clinical condition in which the patient’s left ventricle (one of the heart’s four chambers) presents an abnormally decreased functionality. This medical disorder is considered quite severe, as it presents a set of life-threatening symptoms and / or complications. For example, as the heart’s left ventricle is not able to complete its function, the patient may easily develop myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure and several other cardiovascular medical conditions. Most of these complications are known to have life-threatening (lethal) effects. The presence of this medical condition (Left Ventricular Dysfunction) that affects the heart can be easily spotted through the help of echocardiograpic indices.

There are two types of ventricular dysfunctions that affect the heart’s left ventricle: left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and left ventricular systolic dysfunction. It is very important for the physician to set a correct diagnosis between these two medical conditions, as they are quite different. For example, if the patient is suffering from a diastolic dysfunction of the heart’s left ventricle, the heart chamber is known to fill adequately; however, this is known to lead to the appearance of an unusually high pressure that may trigger heart failure. The presence of the systolic dysfunction of the heart’s left ventricle is defined through ejection fraction (a medical indicator of the systolic function of the ventricles). The healthy ejection fraction should exceed 0.50. However, in the case of patients who have been diagnosed with this form of ventricular dysfunction, the ejection fraction is lower than 0.40. Excesses of salt lead to this disorder.

Left Ventricular Dysfunction Symptoms

You will find here a list with a couple of the main symptoms (clinical manifestations) that are generally experienced by patients who have been diagnosed with the presence of this heart medical condition (Left Ventricular Dysfunction). Individuals who are suffering from the systolic form of this heart medical disorder present an ejection fraction that is lower than 0.40 (compared to the healthy ejection fraction that ought to exceed 0.50). Patients who are suffering from the diastolic form of this heart disorder will a reduced ejection ratio. Besides this, they will also present abnormally high pressure in the pulmonary venous system and in the left atrium.

The presence of Left Ventricular Dysfunction may prevent an individual from leading a normal life, as this heart medical disorder is very severe (it can easily develop into heart failure – a lethal condition) due to the decreased functionality of the patient’s left ventricle. The symptoms of this medical condition are generally triggered in the case of elderly individuals. If you get tired much easier than you usually did, if you experience abnormal chest pains, palpitations, dyspnoea, angina pectoris, or other similar symptoms, we strongly advise you to seek professional medical help at once. A well trained health care provider will be able to give you a proper diagnosis (whether you are suffering from Left Ventricular Dysfunction or from any other heart medical conditions).

Left Ventricular Dysfunction Treatment

If a patient has been diagnosed with the presence of Left Ventricular Dysfunction, he or she ought to perform some changes in their daily routine (life style). The individual should reduce his or her daily intake of salt as much as they can, as the consumption of salty products may worsen the patient’s condition. The individual should also avoid the intake of excessive amounts of fluids, as this is known to increase the patient’s blood pressure and worsen the patient’s medical condition. Obesity is a powerful enemy in the body of those who have been diagnosed with the presence of this medical condition. All patients have to start losing weight. For this reason, it is important to start setting realistic targets in order to reduce the individual’s body weight. This process is known to require nutritional advice from a specialist and regular counseling sessions. This is very important for all patients who are suffering from Left Ventricular Dysfunction.

Cachexia is another medical condition that needs to be kept under strict control in the case of a patient who presents this heart medical disorder. A dietician should be able to grant each patient the clinical attention that he or she needs. The individual will probably change his or her eating routine. The patient’s meals will become smaller but they will be ingested more often. The intake of alcoholic beverages ought to be avoided (especially in the case of patients who are known to have developed their Left Ventricular Dysfunction due to regular consumption of high amounts of alcohol). All individuals ought to be advised and encouraged to quit smoking. They should be offered the support of a specialist and should follow an effective smoking cessation strategy.

Exercising is generally beneficial for individuals who are suffering from heart medical conditions (including Left Ventricular Dysfunction). However, it is very important that the patient should follow a structured exercising program (routine) that will provide the needed benefits. Patients ought to be taught about the most effective cardiac rehabilitation progammes. If the patient and their doctor decide that he or she ought to start following such a programme, it is very important to tailor it to the individual’s needs. Medication therapy has also presented beneficial results in the case of patients with Left Ventricular Dysfunction. The most commonly prescribed medicines in the case of individuals who are suffering from this heart failure belong to the class of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors. The most brand names that are employed in the therapy against this medical condition that affects the heart’s left ventricle include: Accupril, Aceon, Altace, Coreg, Diovan, Lotensin, Mavik, Monopril, Toprol XL, Univasc, Vasotec, and so on. Such medicines are also widely employed in the therapy against heart failure. However, before your personal health care provider recommends you the intake of one or more of these medical products, he or she will want to check whether you are suffering from hyper-sensibility to any of the main ingredients of these drugs. For this purpose, you may have to undergo a set of allergy tests.