• The two lower chambers of the heart are called the ventricles, and they are responsible for pumping blood away from the heart. The left ventricle pumps blood from the heart to the rest of the body, while the right ventricle pumps blood to the nearby lungs. When the workload on the heart increases because of a disease or condition, the heart responds by growing a thicker left ventricle. This enlargement, also called "ventricular hypertrophy," increases blood pressure to deliver blood farther in the body. However, this hypertrophy also has consequences, as uncontrolled thickening eventually leads to a hardened, less useful ventricle.
  
  

Exhaustion

• Although an enlarged left ventricle is an adaptive response to increased workload on the heart, a person whose ventricle is enlarged over an extended period of time may show symptoms of exhaustion after performing otherwise simple tasks. Things like walking up the stairs or picking up objects around the house tire out the person since the heart has a hard time sending blood to the working muscles.
  
  

Chest Symptoms

• Feelings of chest pain or heart palpitations are not uncommon in a person with an enlarged heart ventricle. This is because the heart muscle, like any other muscle, aches in response to being overworked. Also, the thickened ventricle pushes more forcefully against the chest wall, leading to palpitations. Any chest pain should be considered a medical emergency, so seek immediate medical care if you experience any kind of chest pain, big or small.
  
  

Neurological Symptoms

• Dizziness and fainting are symptoms of ventricular hypertrophy as the heart is unable to pump enough blood to the brain. Lowered blood circulation to the brain leads to loss of balance, confusion, and, in severe cases, loss of consciousness or even death. These symptoms may be transient, but they should be taken seriously.
  
  

High Blood Pressure

• High blood pressure is often associated with an enlarged heart not because the enlarged heart causes high blood pressure, but because the high blood pressure enlarges the heart. As the blood pressure in the body rises, the heart has to work harder to get the blood through the narrowed arteries causing high blood pressure. Think of it as needing a stronger pump to get water through a narrower, longer hose than you would through a wide, short hose.