In: Anatomy and Physiology
What is the functional difference between ventricular hypertrophy due to exercise and hypertrophy due to congestive heart failure?
Ventricular hypertrophy due to exercise as in athletes is a type of adaptive change which is a type of physiological change. The cells and muscles of the body of an athlete require more amount of nutrients and oxygen as compared to normal individual. This increase demand is because of increased work done during exercises. So in order to meet this increased demand, the heart undergoes adaptive change in the form of hypertrophy. Increase heart size due to hypertrophy allow pumping of more blood and increased demand is fulfilled .
In case of heart failure, the heart is not able to supply pump blood efficiently to body because heart muscles are not getting enough oxygen.So in order to meet this demand, the heart tries to perform more work which ultimately leads to hypertrophy of left ventricle. So hypertrophy in case of cardiac failure is due to increased work load on heart because heart is not getting enough oxygen. It is a type of pathological change