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What is Hypertrophy?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Hypertrophic is a medical term that translates to enlarged, and hypertrophy would refer to the enlargement of various areas of the body; these areas could include muscles, skin, appendages or organs. In this condition, at the most basic level, cell enlargement occurs. This should be considered as distinct from growth through cells dividing and creating new cells, which is frequently called hyperplasia. Causes of hypertrophic growth vary depending on where the growth occurs.

Those looking to understand this condition must realize that it comes in many forms, many of which are medically problematic. Though it’s not accurate to say that all forms of hypertrophy are bad, most of them can be medically significant. They may cause minor to significant problems for the person who experiences a hypertrophic condition.

Positive and Negative Instances

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a heart condition where the walls of the heart have become thickened, making it difficult for the heart to pump efficiently.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a heart condition where the walls of the heart have become thickened, making it difficult for the heart to pump efficiently.

A cursory web search for the term hypertrophy is likely to reveal opposed positive and negative articles concerning the topic. For example, when articles discuss enlargement of the muscles, they may be on sites that deal with bodybuilding. In this case, creating hypertrophy or bigger muscles is typically desirable, and there are many tips on how to do this by lifting weights, in addition to lots of hormone and nutritional products for sale that promise to bulk up muscles. Yet while enlarging muscles may be a positive instance of hypertrophic enlargement, especially for those interested in bodybuilding, in most cases hypertrophy of other parts of the body is essentially negative and potentially dangerous.

Effects on the Heart

As men age, they may suffer from an enlarged prostate, which is also known as hypertrophy of the prostate gland.
As men age, they may suffer from an enlarged prostate, which is also known as hypertrophy of the prostate gland.

When heart cells get bigger, as is often the case when heart disease is present, the total heart works less efficiently. Some people suffer from conditions like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which includes significant heart muscle enlargement. Mostly genetic or caused by high blood pressure, this dangerous condition decreases the size of the heart's chambers, reducing blood flow, and can sometimes necessitate transplant or removal of part of the heart’s tissue in order to get the heart to function better.

Effects on Organs and Glands

Hypertrophic tonsils and adenoids are often removed.
Hypertrophic tonsils and adenoids are often removed.

There are many organs and glands that can become hypertrophic, for example, the thyroid gland can become hypertrophic as a result of the thyroid releasing too many hormones. This causes the thyroid to cut down on thyroid hormone production, which may possibly require medication or removal of the thyroid. Tonsils and adenoids, when they get too big due to bacteria or viruses, could be called hypertrophic. Also, as many men age, they may suffer from the prostate getting larger from infection, which may be referred to as hypertrophy of the prostate gland.

Other Examples

The thyroid gland can become hypertrophic when it releases too many hormones.
The thyroid gland can become hypertrophic when it releases too many hormones.

Other areas of the body can become hypertrophic. Skin cells can enlarge, especially when injury or stretching has occurred to the skin, and some scars are basically the result of hypertrophy of the skin, which causes their unusual appearance. A few women experience extreme breast enlargement, especially during pregnancy or when they reach puberty; not only does this hypertrophy cause discomfort, but it may also result in hypertrophic scarring on the skin with long-lasting evidence of stretch marks.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent WiseGEEK contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent WiseGEEK contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

Fristepha

I’m a 25-year-old guy who is interested in bulking up. I’m a dedicated runner and I’m very athletic, but I would really like to start building muscle (especially in my arms). I wanted to find out if there is any way to build muscles and definition fast without dealing with stretch marks. I know some guys who bulked up quickly and look great, but they have some really bad stretch marks on their arms and I don’t want that. Are there any natural supplements that I can take along with a regular weight-training regime that will help add muscle quickly without getting stretch marks? I'm just really tired of looking so scrawny.

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    • Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a heart condition where the walls of the heart have become thickened, making it difficult for the heart to pump efficiently.
      By: peterjunaidy
      Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a heart condition where the walls of the heart have become thickened, making it difficult for the heart to pump efficiently.
    • As men age, they may suffer from an enlarged prostate, which is also known as hypertrophy of the prostate gland.
      By: peterjunaidy
      As men age, they may suffer from an enlarged prostate, which is also known as hypertrophy of the prostate gland.
    • Hypertrophic tonsils and adenoids are often removed.
      By: Cheryl Casey
      Hypertrophic tonsils and adenoids are often removed.
    • The thyroid gland can become hypertrophic when it releases too many hormones.
      By: nerthuz
      The thyroid gland can become hypertrophic when it releases too many hormones.
    • Gargling with warm salt water may help reduce the swelling associated with hypertrophic adenoids.
      By: Viktor
      Gargling with warm salt water may help reduce the swelling associated with hypertrophic adenoids.
    • Breast reduction surgery is a treatment option for breast hypertrophy.
      By: gwolters
      Breast reduction surgery is a treatment option for breast hypertrophy.
    • When tonsils and adenoids enlarge due to bacteria or viruses, the patient is considered hypertrophic.
      By: snapgalleria
      When tonsils and adenoids enlarge due to bacteria or viruses, the patient is considered hypertrophic.
    • Medications used to treat cardiac hypertrophy help slow the heart rate so that blood can be pumped more efficiently.
      By: sudok1
      Medications used to treat cardiac hypertrophy help slow the heart rate so that blood can be pumped more efficiently.
    • Hypertrophy can be caused by high blood pressure.
      By: WavebreakMediaMicro
      Hypertrophy can be caused by high blood pressure.
    • The thyroid can become hypertrophic as a result of the gland releasing too many hormones.
      By: stockshoppe
      The thyroid can become hypertrophic as a result of the gland releasing too many hormones.
    • Breast enlargement during pregnancy is an example of hypertrophy.
      By: polinaloves
      Breast enlargement during pregnancy is an example of hypertrophy.