Left ventricular atrophy is a condition where the heart’s left ventricle reduces in size, leading to health complications. It can be caused by disease, lack of use, spinal cord injury, and spaceflight. Treatment involves cardiac exercise and regular checkups with a cardiologist.
Left ventricular atrophy (LAT) is a reduction in the size of the heart’s left ventricle, the chamber of the heart responsible for pumping freshly oxygenated blood to the rest of the body. People with this condition can experience a variety of health complications, and treatments are available to halt or reverse the atrophy. A cardiologist usually needs to supervise the care of a patient with left ventricular atrophy, including regular checkups to see how well a patient is responding to treatment.
The heart is a muscle, and like other muscles, it can experience atrophy due to factors such as disease or lack of use. Patients with certain chronic diseases may be at risk for LAT, as are people on bed rest. Less active patients don’t use their heart as much, and the muscle can start to weaken. Spinal cord injury and paralysis are associated with left ventricular atrophy, as is spaceflight.
The decrease in the size of the ventricle forces the remaining muscle to work harder. It may be less efficient and patients may start to notice circulatory symptoms such as red fingers and toes because they are not getting enough oxygen. The decline in oxygenated blood can also damage organs such as the brain, which rely on a constant supply of oxygen for cellular function. Patients may experience fatigue, dizziness, and difficulty engaging in physical activities due to their weakened hearts.
It is also common to see cardiac arrhythmias with left ventricular atrophy. A doctor can read an electrocardiogram to determine the nature and source of the arrhythmia. Medical imaging to visualize the heart can also be helpful and can provide important information about how much muscle is wasted due to disease or lack of use. If available, a doctor will review previous scans and measures of heart function to identify signs of changes, using those scans as a basis for a patient’s heart health.
Treatment for left ventricular atrophy usually involves cardiac exercise to keep the heart working and rebuilding the muscles. This may require working with a physical therapist to work out an exercise regimen that is safe and comfortable for the patient. For people with significant mobility impairments, it is important to balance patient safety with the need to exercise the heart. Astronauts usually have to follow strict physical fitness guidelines both on the ground and during missions to protect their bodies from atrophy and other complications of a weightless environment.
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